"She has been impeccably consistent" - Justine Henin backs Barty's World No.1 ranking

After Ashleigh Barty chose to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells event, former World No.1 Justine Henin stated it is unfortunate the Aussie chose to do so but still believes Barty is deserving of her number 1 spot.

Barty decided to withdraw from Indian Wells and the upcoming Miami tournament, stating she she felt she wasn't where she needed to be in order to compete for the titles at those two events.

"Ashleigh chose not to play in Indian Wells and Miami, which is regrettable," admitted Henin. "When you're No. 1, you have a certain responsibility, so I can understand the critics who say we need the best players - especially in the women’s game - to be present at the biggest tournaments in terms of achieving visibility."

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Nonetheless, the retired Belgian believes Barty deserves to hold the World No.1 ranking, a position she has been at for three consecutive seasons.

"The WTA has a great No. 1 with Ashleigh Barty. She is undeniable and deserves 200% to be there! I like her intelligence in the way she manages her career," added Henin. "Ashleigh Barty has always been in tune with herself, she has made strong choices and has embraced the need to pause when she feels it’s right to.

"I think it says a lot about a player who decides not to play for a long time but comes back at the same level. Since her victory at Roland-Garros, she has been impeccably consistent."