Miami Open champion Ashleigh Barty is looking to take her recent momentum into the clay court season.
The Australian who won her first premier mandatory title last week has remained optimistic ahead of the clay season despite it being her weakest surface.
After breaking into the top 10 in the world for the first time, Barty is now looking for more success on clay, “It has been a while since I have been on clay and it is a short season,” Barty said to ABC Australia.
“I only play five, six, seven weeks on it but I think I have the game on clay to be able to do some damage. I just have to learn how to use it properly, learn how to enjoy it.”
The clay season for Barty will begin at the Mutua Madrid Open in May after the 22 year-old represents her country in their Fed Cup tie against Belarus in Brisbane in April.
“I just have to be able to learn how to use it properly, how to enjoy it. The depth across women’s tennis is getting better and better and I think that is one of the big things. Yes it is open, but it is stronger than ever before in the top 30 and the top 40 in the world.”
Despite Barty’s recent success, her expectation have not been limited as she now wants to be apart of the world’s top eight, “I think number eight [is my next goal],” she explained.
“You have to keep going one at a time I suppose, but I have to continue to do the right things both on and off the court.”
The clay court season has already started for some players as the Volvo Car Open in Charleston has already begun on the green clay.
In the next weeks players will be preparing for the second grand slam of the year at Roland Garros, which begins on the 26th of May. Simona Halep is the defending champion.
