Australia’s Ash Barty says she has earned the right to be at the top of the world rankings despite not playing a match for 11 months.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WTA made adjustments to how a player’s ranking is calculated to help support those who have been affected. Using a longer period and some results going back to 2019 to determine their position instead of the usual 52-week approach. Barty has held the No.1 spot continuously since September 9th 2019 but was absent from the Tour between March 2020 and January 2021.
Critics have argued that Barty’s weeks at No.1 should have an asterisk next to it given the circumstances. She has been at the top of the rankings for more weeks than Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Kim Clijsters.
“I never have to prove anything to anyone,” said Barty. “I know all the work that I do with my team behind the scene. I know there has been a lot of talk about the ranking, but I didn’t play at all last year and I didn’t improve any of my points whatsoever.’
“There were girls who had the chance to improve theirs, so I felt like I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings.”
Barty, who has won 10 WTA titles so far in her career, points out that her 2019 season justifies her rise to the top. During that year she claimed her first Grand Slam at the French Open in what was one out of four tournaments which she won. Barty also triumphed at the season-ending WTA Finals.
“The year we had in 2019 was incredible, incredible for us (my team) and to be able to build on that now since the restart for us has been great. In my eyes we come out here and do the best that we can regardless of what anyone is saying. So I never feel like I have to prove anything to anyone,” she said.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. That’s absolutely fine. I can’t control what anyone else thinks or what anyone else says. I just keep trying to do what we do.”
Since returning to tennis in Melbourne earlier this year, Barty has won 14 out of 16 matches played. On Saturday she defended a WTA title for the first time at the Miami Open after defeating Bianca Andreescu who retired injured during the second set. The 24-year-old also scored wins over Elina Svitolina, Aryna Sabalenka, Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Ostapenko in the tournament.
Barty joins an exclusive list of female players who have managed to win back-to-back titles in Miami. Others to do so include both of the Williams sisters, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
“I feel like I shouldn’t belong with that group,” she commented on the milestone. “I feel like I haven’t earned the right to be in a list of names with those champions. They are genuine champions of our sport, legends of our sport. I feel very privileged to be mentioned in that sentence.”
“I’ve got a long, long way to go yet before I can be in discussion with those names,” she added.
There will be little time for the Australian to relax with the clay swing swiftly approaching. She will return to action next week at the Volvo Open in Charleston.