She conquered the tennis world, before her retirement triggered shockwaves through the sport and left a gaping void in Australia’s grand slam prospects.
But Ash Barty has declared the nation’s next generation of stars “could not be in better hands”, as they plot long-awaited deep runs at the drawcard events.
Ash Barty believes Australia’s tennis prospects are on the verge of pushing deep into grand slam tournaments. Credit: AP
Since the former champion drew the curtain on her career aged just 25, having triumphed at the 2022 Australian Open, only one Australian woman has gone beyond the third round of the four marquee tournaments: Ajla Tomljanovic’s quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open later that year.
But as Barty launched the Ash Barty Schools Challenge – aimed at encouraging more kids to pick up a racquet – she said Australia’s prospects were on the cusp of second-week appearances in the major competitions.
While the live rankings have Tomljanovic as the country’s leading player (No.81), Olivia Gadecki sits on a career best just two spots behind, having become the first Australian since Barty to reach a WTA final, at the Guadalajara Open in September.
The 22-year-old defeated grand slam champion Sloane Stephens and Danielle Collins – Barty’s final victim – in a sign she had found her feet on the international circuit.
Add in doubles star Storm Hunter, and teenage sensations Maya Joint and Taylah Preston, and Barty was confident a period of success beckoned.
“My former coach Craig Tyzzer is now working with the next generation of Aussie girls. They couldn’t be in better hands,” Barty told this masthead.
“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.
Olivia Gadecki on her way to a career-high ranking.
“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.”
While the women’s side of the draw was still building, former world No.33 John Millman believed male prospects were on the verge of delivering grand slam success.
Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson have come off career-best years, and now Australia appeared destined to have three seeded chances at the Australian Open.
Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios also revealed he intended to feature in Melbourne after a long injury layoff.
De Minaur has fought an injury-plagued end to 2024. A hip concern forced him to withdraw from the Wimbledon quarter-finals and Paris Olympics, before his strong run at the US Open was hampered by the issue.
However, Millman revealed he had spoken with the 25-year-old, and he appeared on track for an imminent comeback.
“I think he could’ve gone a little deeper at the US Open if his body was right. I’ve spoken to him, and … that body is definitely on the mend,” Millman said.
“He’ll want it peaking this Australian summer, but then you’ve got Alexei Popyrin, our first Masters champion in over 20 years since the great Lleyton Hewitt.
“I think there’s a real opportunity, especially in men’s tennis, right now. There is probably a bit of a changing of the guard, and we know how good your [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcarazes are, but I think a couple of our boys aren’t too far away.”
