Will the U.S. Open be the next treat for Ashleigh Barty?
Predicting the Ashleigh Barty gameplay may be a no-brainer, because the moves and strategies are only in her head. She does well to execute them on the court and when she steps away from the norm, whether on purpose or by accident, her comeback is remarkable.
It was years ago that she departed from tennis to play cricket for a year in Australia. Upon her return she qualified for the Nottingham Open and made it to the quarterfinals. In two months time she played five tournaments and won three. But this season so far, Barty could consider it a win situation despite some peaks and valleys. At the top of the year she won three titles: the Miami Open opposite Karolina Pliskova, the Italian Open women's doubles partnering with Victoria Azarenka and then her most pride winning was the French Open in singles opposite Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets for her first slam title. It was oddly enough she'd win the Birmingham Classic over her doubles partner and singles opponent Julia Goerges.
Recently Barty was heading into the finals of the Cincinnati Open when she encountered Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian's game was undeniable and Barty had started sprinkling her strategies with unforced errors and little mistakes that Kuznetsova took advantage of. "Sveta was unreal today," Barty said about the 153rd rank Russian. But besides from the hits in her performances she has had some low points where she couldn't believe how she'd played. "I think at times I played some great stuff. At times I played some pretty awful stuff," Barty said being frank and spot on. She'd played the Rogers Cup and bowed in the first round to a consistent and aggressive Sofia Kenin in three sets. The grassy slam Wimbledon, Barty hadn't dropped a set in three rounds, but the round of 16 she lost her touch and went down to Alison Riske in three sets. A low point was also the Italian Open where she'd fall to Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets in the second round.
No one should panic though, because Barty's comeback power is just as good as her having consistency. She might have gone through a brief lapse of winning in the Cincinnati Open, obvious that she was taking a breather, a tiresome time needed to re-group her tactics together to win. She's won three titles this year, more than most and her game strategies are out there to be tested anytime. The question is not will Ashleigh Barty be ready for the U.S. Open, but more like will players at the U.S. Open be ready for Barty.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/30pC1y7
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