Hall of Famer's fear for Ash Barty's Wimbledon assault

8 months ago

Tennis legend Chris Evert is concerned new world No.1 Ashleigh Barty may have run out of petrol tickets ahead of the Australian's assault on a maiden Wimbledon singles crown.

Barty is playing the best tennis of her career, having won three titles in 2019 - Miami Open, French Open and Birmingham Classic – and on Sunday became Australia's first WTA world No.1 since Evonne Goolagong Cawley way back in 1976.

Evert has no doubt the 23-year-old Queenslander has the ability and temperament required to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish, but wonders whether her stellar season will start to take a toll.

"It would be like a herculean effort if she won Wimbledon, to have won the French, to have won Birmingham," said Evert, a three-time Wimbledon champion.

"Then when she won that, she became No 1. At some point it's got to be overwhelming, and she's a human being. I mean, it would be so impressive if she won Wimbledon.

"She has the game. She has the athleticism, the variety. I just kind of wonder when the tank is going to start to get a little bit empty, both physically and emotionally. So it’s going to be tough."

Barty - the top seed at the All England Club – says she's not sure how she will handle the expectation of being the tournament favourite.

"I don't know, we'll have to wait and see," Barty said.

"I feel like I'm playing good tennis but it's such an open field, if I'm being brutally honest.

"For me, there are so many potential new situations at Wimbledon. It's essential I go out to prepare the best I can."

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