Ash Barty's first qualifier for the Brisbane International is against Cagla Buyukakcay. Source: Mark Calleja / News Limited
NOT every 17-year-old can boast earnings this year of $US540,652 ($A608,499) as she counts down the days to the New Year.
Ash Barty, the Ipswich prodigy, will see out the year in which she and Casey Dellacqua were three time runners-up at Grand Slam tournaments with a task to win through qualifying for the Brisbane International.
Barty, the 2011 Wimbledon junior champion, will play her first-round qualifying match on Friday against Turk Cagla Buyukakcay at the Queensland Tennis Centre.
"That sounds like a lot of money, but it goes very quickly I can tell you that much,'' Barty said.
"A lot of people don't understand how expensive a sport it can be to fly around the world and have a team with you.
"I have been amazingly funded by Tennis Australia as well, so I have been able to keep some of it in my pocket. I have to continue to be smart with my money and try to invest it the best way I can and hopefully set up my future.''
Barty is ranked No.187 after a 2013 schedule restricted under WTA age regulations and she is eager to get into her first full season on the tour.
Former Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge said Barty's achievements to make three Grand Slam doubles finals at her age was "extraordinary ... it hasn't been done since the days of Martina Hingis''.
"Someone said to me the other day that Ash hasn't progressed as well as she should. I disagree with that,'' said Woodbridge, who stepped down last month as Tennis Australia head of professional tennis to take up an ambassador role in which he will also work with players.
Barty and Dellacqua talk tactics at the 2013 US Open. Source: Getty Images
"Ash's skill level is as good as anyone in the top 10.
"She made the connection herself after the US Open that for her to beat those top girls she needs to be physically stronger. It's one of the best things to come out of the year because ... the returns, the volley, the serve-volley, the soft hands, it's all fantastic. She truly is starting to believe she belongs with those girls.''
Barty, who worked on her strength and conditioning in the past two months with three different AFL clubs, and her Melbourne coach Jason Stoltenberg are happy for her to have to win three qualifying matches at her home state tournament.
The 17-year-old from Springfield, who is ranked 13th in the world in doubles, is able to claim only four wildcards at WTA tournaments in 2014 and will use two at Australian tournaments, the Hobart International starting on Sunday week and the Australian Open.
Barty with a photo taken from her facebook page after a fishing expedition Source: Supplied
Melbourne's Olivia Rogowska, the last of TA's Brisbane women's event wildcards, is ranked 13 places ahead of Barty.
TA has reciprocal wildcards to issue for the French and US Opens and Barty has been gifted one by TA for the past two French Opens and this year's US Open.
Barty has a reasonable draw to be pitted against Buyukakcay, who is ranked No.158, 19 places better than the Queenslander.
"I really just started my career even though I have been playing tennis for 12 years,'' Barty said.
"I do enjoy playing and travelling the world and seeing amazing things. The day I don't, I will stop ... if I'm not enjoying it when I'm 19, or I'm not enjoying it when I'm 36.''
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
C-Ash-ing in on double assault
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/12/c-ash-ing-in-on-double-assault.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
C-Ash-ing in on double assault
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
C-Ash-ing in on double assault
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar