WTA coach Eric van Harpen: I like Ash Barty the most at the moment

Many fans have complained that women's tennis needs more consistent champions who are able to win multiple Grand Slams and battle for the major titles. At least, one noted WTA coach Eric van Harpen says that a few players in the current game have the ability to win at least five slams.

WTA coach Eric van Harpen says he likes Ash Barty the most at the moment

van Harpen, who has worked with several WTA players in the past including Conchita Martinez, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Andrea Petkovic, spoke to Tennis.com about the current players in women's tennis, who have won Grand Slams recently. "Garbine Muguruza, Ash Barty and Bianca Andreescu have a chance to win five Slams, but [Sofia] Kenin and Andreescu, or Osaka, they came up very young, and it's always easier to come up than to stay as a top player. The locker rooms are not sleeping and the tension will not be easy. I think we will have more surprising winners. They all have some opponents they do not like, such as Muguruza—she is 0-4 record against [Andrea] Petkovic, but she has a chance because with Conchita [Martinez], she has a coach who really understands the game."

van Harpen also says that while he was disappointed that Sloane Stephens was not able to replicate her US Open winning form, he was impressed with Bianca Andreecu's win at the US Open last year. "I like Ash Barty the most at the moment. I thought a few years ago that Stephens would be a candidate to follow Serena, but that was very disappointing. It was impressive Andreescu won the [2019] US Open, but what kind of injury she had that took her so long to come back."

Ash Barty is the current World No. 1 and has won one Grand Slam singles title -- at the 2019 French Open; Garbine Muguruza and Naomi Osaka are two-time Grand Slam winners while Sloane Stephas is still looking for her second Grand Slam singles title.  Bianca Andreescu won the US Open last year and did not play the Australian Open in January due to injury while Sofia Kenin won her first Slam at the Australian Open this year - which was the last Grand Slam event held prior to the tennis shutdown.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/30Qc3p5