No French Open for now, but defending champ Ash Barty is back on clay in Australia

World No. 1 Ash Barty, who is the reigning women's singles champion at Roland Garros, was back on the courts on Monday in Australia - this time on the clay courts.

Barty posted a video of her training on the clay courts in Australia with the message, 'Back on clay today! Would be rude not to 🦓🧡'

The French Open Grand Slam event would have started in Paris this week if it were not for the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament has been moved to September as of now and a final date for the event is likely to be announced in mid-June, along with an updated tennis calendar for the 2020 season.

The French Tennis Federation says they remain optimistic about holding the event in September, even if it means holding the event with a limited number of fans.

Barty won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open last June. With the title, Barty became the first Australian to win the French Open in singles since Margaret Court in 1973 and the first Australian to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sam Stosur at the 2011 US Open. She went on to become the World No. 1 player after winning the Birmingham Classic in June and is the second Australian to be No. 1 in the WTA rankings after Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Back on clay today! Would be rude not to 🦓🧡 pic.twitter.com/nyXDDqp1o8

— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) May 25, 2020

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2B50z89