The Ashleigh Barty problem: Australian women's tennis yet to emerge from sudden retirement of former World No.1

Friday, 03 January 2025 at 01:28

While Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and even Thanasi Kokkinakis as well as the return of Nick Kyrgios have set the blueprint for men's Australian tennis, the women's side has long lagged behind and has done so especially since the retirement of former WTA World No.1, Ashleigh Barty.

Ahead of the Australian Open, many of the top Aussies have to receive wildcards to play in a similar vein to Britons and even French players at Wimbledon and the French Open.

But unlike those two nations who have players who qualify by right and also the US Open where it is somewhat difficult to give wildcards due to the sheer number of top Americans, Australia has never had the luxury in recent years.

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The top ten in the Australian Women's Rankings brought together in a handy list on the Tennis Australia website sees Olivia Gadecki top who may be their best hope currently but hasn't yet hit the ceiling. She was the protege of one Ashleigh Barty so perhaps had added expectation.

But it kind of says a lot when Daria Saville is second who sits just inside the top 100, was a former top 20 player but has had major issues with her ACL. She went out in the first round of Brisbane qualifying. Being a former Russian, she also doesn't get gifted opportunities with Arina Rodionova being a proponent of that.

Arina Rodionova, previously Australia's top player.

Gadecki and Joint next up?

She now sits lowly in the Australian rankings at fourth but Rodionova at one time was on a serious hot streak and was making real strides. But she was not given an Australian Open wildcard despite being their Number One.

Gadecki is currently World No.83, she reached a maiden WTA Tour final and played the Olympics. She is only 22 so she has time but there is no lynchpin of Aussie Women's Tennis. In the men's, Alex De Minaur anchors that so any of those below him can work towards their goals not under the same pressure.

But Gadecki also was a rising star when Barty still played so there has yet to be that huge jump. Players such as Priscilla Hon and even Kimberly Birrell beating Emma Navarro in Brisbane have shone at times but it is very much an Aussie summer vibe.

Maya Joint is the next in the ranks. She lost to Victoria Azarenka in a valiant effort on Wednesday and famously had to give up her $210,000 US Open winnings due to NCAA rules. The American born 18-year-old of course is still an unknown quantity. So could be a big name or could merely fit into the pack.

But with Diana Shnaider and Peyton Stearns both bucking the trend of good NCAA displays into big time tennis, Joint could yet prove her worth.

Future of Tomljanovic

Previously the Aussie Number Two behind Ashleigh barty realistically was a certain Ajla Tomljanovic. Now World No.85, she previously was as high as World No.32 and has reached three major Quarter-Finals.

She also ended the career of Serena Williams. But also she has suffered massively with injury in recent years in what has been a crushing blow.

She won the Hong Kong 125 title last season and showed glimmers of her previous form but then pulled out of Brisbane this season seemingly not ready to return yet.

Tomljanovic also due to her role in Break Point was clamoured over when the TV series came out with her father in particular being the star of the show. But while her ex-boyfriend Matteo Berrettini has shown some form again, Tomljanovic has yet to pull it back into focus yet.

Perhaps Australia's top player on her day, Ajla Tomljanovic has yet to shake injury issues.

A player who on her day is a top 20 player, she has yet to get over the hump of being injured for part of the season which has held her back.

Aussie Women's Tennis perhaps instead has its hopes pinned on doubles of course with Ellen Perez, Storm Hunter among others. But in singles, it still is a bit of an unknown and no player is really nailed on for second week at a Grand Slam for instance.

While British Tennis perhaps gained Jack Draper when Andy Murray retired. As well as when Emma Raducanu fell off and Johanna Konta retired, Katie Boulter stepped up, Aussie Women's Tennis has yet to get over that hurdle of finding the next star.

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Perhaps this was also in evidence with Australia's United Cup campaign which saw Alex de Minaur star but the team miss out on the latter stages after reaching the final last year. Gadecki doesn't have the game yet to match hardened talents like Katie Boulter for instance and so it is either a cae of waiting for a sudden run or one player breaking out after a long drought without a top name.

A country with such a key part to the tennis season, it will come but as Barty remains a focal point of the Aussie summer despite being retired for two years, it shows an issue that the country has yet to move on from such a huge name leaving so abruptly.

Ashleigh Barty pic.twitter.com/Cu8y9EA5iV
— ola production (@olasproductio_) January 19, 2022

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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