Barty Wants Spot In Australian Open

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 16th December 2013

Barty Wants Spot In Australian Open

epa03665323 Australia's Ashleigh Barty returns the ball during a training session in Chiasso, Switzerland, 17 April 2013. Switzerland will face Australia in the Fed Cup World Group Play-offs on 20 and 21 April. EPA/KARL MATHIS |

With doubles partner Casey Dellacqua claiming an automatic spot in the Australian Open field with her finals victory at the weekend in the grand slam playoffs in Melbourne, Ash Barty is now keen to make sure she also takes a spot in the major.

Barty is prepared to play qualifying rounds prior to the January 13 start at Melbourne Park if that’s what it takes. She will have to be inspired by her partner’s 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 finals victory over Arina Rodionova in the wild-card playoffs at the weekend in Melbourne.

In addition to a coveted place in the field for the major, Dellacqua was presented with her Open accreditation badge as well as one of the officials towels which players seem to “borrow” by the lorryload during the fortnight.

Barty, who barely took an off-season break after she and Dellacqua played grand slam finals in 2013 at Wimbledon and New York, has been doing the hard work at home, And the teenager says she’s prepared to go all out at her first events of the pre-Open season at Brisbane and Hobart in hopes of getting a wild card into the Open.

Otherwise, she will play qualifying rounds, meaning she will have to miss Hobart. “I’ve played Brisbane once before and then I played Hopman Cup this year but I love playing in Hobart. I didn’t get much time off really. I just had a bit of a rest and letting the body recover. It’s been nice to get off the court for a little bit. I pretty much went straight into training, just try and maximize the time that we have, It’s really good to knuckle down and get some work done.”

Topics: 10sballs, Arina Rodionova, Ashleigh Barty, Australian Open, Casey Dellacqua, Hopman Cup, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wimbledon