"They couldn’t be in better hands": Ashleigh Barty shares optimism for Australian women's tennis

Former world number one Ashleigh Barty believes that the upcoming generation of women players from Australia are in the good hands. The 28-year-old was once regarded as one of the best players playing in women’s tennis but decided to surprisingly retire at the age of 26 in 2022.

Since Barty’s retirement from professional tennis, no Australian player has managed to lift a Grand Slam. However, the Ipswich-born has been recently quoted in a report where she expressed optimism that the drought might well be over in the near future as the upcoming players in the women category are working with her former coach Craig Tyzzer, who according to her is the best mentor for young players in the country going forward.

“My former coach Craig Tyzzer is now working with the next generation of Aussie girls. They couldn’t be in better hands,” said Barty as quoted by WAToday. “There are some exciting young players in Emerson Jones and Taylah Preston coming through, Liv Gadecki is another one to watch. I hope to see Ajla back to her best this summer too, I always love watching her play. We have so many Australian players competing in the main draw across singles, doubles and mixed. It’s an awesome opportunity for the Australian public to watch and enjoy the next group of talent coming through. Fingers crossed we have a few going deep into the second week.”

Barty finished her career with three Grand Slam titles. She lifted the 2019 French Open title after beating the Czech Republic’s Markéta Vondrousova in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3. She won the Wimbledon title in 2021 after beating Karolína Pliskova in the final in straight sets with a score of 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3. Barty’s last major title was the Australian Open in 2022 where she got the better of America’s Danielle Collins in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6.