Ashleigh Barty won the 2022 US Open but her coach doesn't think she can win the 2022 US Open which surprised many.
Barty won her maiden Australian Open by seemingly cruising to the trophy without any issues. During the majority of the match, Barty looked unplayable and borderline unbearable but her coach doesn't think it matters much for the upcoming grand slams. Barty is only missing the US Open trophy now after winning the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Barty’s coach Craig Tyzzer was asked about her chances to complete the grand slam set at Flushing Meadows in August:
“If they keep that ball the same, no one like Ash will win that tournament. The US Open really needs to change the ball for the girls. The fact they still use a different ball for guys and girls, it’s a terrible ball for someone like Ash.”
Men at the US Open play with fuzzier, extra-duty balls while the women, as they have for decades, play regular-duty balls. That forces Barty to use a different racquet than usually:
“It was the only tournament last year and really for two years where she uses a gut racquet but I had to change her to a poly just to get any sort of control of the ball. It’s the only tournament that has separate ball for the guys and girls. So if they don’t change the balls, she won’t win the US Open.”