"Incredibly special" says Barty on playing on the Centre Court of Wimbledon

Traditionally the defending champion open's things up on the Centre Court but as Simona Halep was forced to withdraw due to an injury the honour passed to Barty as the world number one. For Barty it's something very special which she admitted:

“It’s incredibly special. It’s an opportunity very few people get to experience. Of course, I wish Sim was here to be able to experience that. She’s earned the right to open Centre Court on Tuesday as the defending women’s champion."

For Barty, it's an even more special occasion as she gets to do it on the 50th anniversary of Evonne Goolagong winning her maiden Wimbledon title in 1971. Evonne has been a longtime mentor to Barty. On all of that she said:

“I’m extremely excited and humbled to have the privilege and to have the honour. I hope I can go out there on a really special occasion for Australian tennis with Evonne’s 50th anniversary.”