Todd Woodbridge: Barty should be named Australian of the year
Australian Ash Barty has won the biggest cheque in tennis history after she lifted the WTA Finals trophy in China. The World No.1 outplayed Ukrainian Elina Svitolina in straight sets to take home an astounding $6.4Mn, the biggest cheque in tennis history by a male or female.
Former tennis Australian legend – Tood Woodbridge has called for Barty to be named Australian of the Year. A lot of people go ‘oh it’s great that you can win at sport and put money in your bank’, but she does a lot more than that,” he told 3AW’s Tony Jones.
“Her indigenous background, the time that she spends up north, she’s been to the Tiwi Islands and more recently she’s been in Cairns trying to get kids out on the court, using sport as a great vehicle for health and to get them away from other activities that are not so healthy for them. And then, just a spokesperson for sport and about how to go about being humble with winning and in defeat.”
He further added, “She is very real and there is nothing fake about what she’s doing. I think she covers so many bases.”
Woodbridge also praised Barty’s father. “Her father, Rob, actually was a very good sportsman himself. He was Australian amateur golf champion. He comes along to our nationals, junior tournaments, 16 and unders. He goes and talks to the parents.”
“It’s almost a compulsory session where he brings the parents in and explains the journey that they’re about to embark upon with their kids.”
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2PJeOoh
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