WASHINGTON, January 27, 2021 (by Michael Dickens)
As the 2021 Australian Open in Melbourne comes into focus – it starts in less than two weeks – much attention will be on World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, who will play her first tournament in 11 months after remaining home in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic. While others returned to competition, Barty opted out of playing any tournaments after the WTA relaunched last August following a five-month absence.
“I missed the routine and craved the training that had become so normal to me for so many years now,” Barty, 24, told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen in a recent interview posted to the WTA website.
Last year, Barty was ranked No. 1 during the pandemic-interrupted season and will look to pick up where she left off. After a 2019 season in which she won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, as well as crowns in Miami and Birmingham, and the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen, Barty began 2020 by winning a title in Adelaide and reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and Doha. Now, the Queenslander is back.
“It’s been a unique year for everyone without a doubt, a unique preparation for everyone,” said Barty. “It’s been a little bit of a tricky one with everyone having to navigate through different things. But it’s been great and I feel like we’re ready to go and now we’re exciting to get out there and have some fun.”
Barty will play in the Day at the Drive exhibition in Adelaide in support of the Australian Tennis Federation on Friday. Then, next week, she’s entered in one of the Melbourne WTA 500-series events. Finally, on Feb. 8, the World No. 1 will compete in the 2021 Australian Open.
Read more of Barty’s WTA Insider interview.
Adelaide Day at the Drive lineup
The world’s top tennis players are just days away from getting out of hotel quarantine and taking to Memorial Drive for an exhibition showdown – and we now know the line-up. @HarveyBiggs #9News pic.twitter.com/7925PwdXsU
— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) January 26, 2021
ATP Cup: Order of play released
Schedule for the first three days of the ATP Cup. Changes can me made till 30 minutes before the ties, obviously. pic.twitter.com/am1GCODQ9W
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 25, 2021
New-look kit for Sofia Kenin
Grand Slams are typically a time when the big tennis apparel brands like Nike, Adidas and Fila roll out new kits on their highest-profile athlete clients. On Tuesday, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who sports Fila attire, showed off her new threads in a photo spread she posted on her social media platforms.
Time to get ready for the @AustralianOpen 💪🏼
Thanks @FILAtennis for the new kit! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0Tz5fLNzz1— Sofia Kenin (@SofiaKenin) January 26, 2021
Thanasi Kokkinakis: Ready to make his comeback
“Just be resilient and stay in the moment. You never know what can happen.”
With a fresh perspective from his time off, @TKokkinakis is ready to make his comeback at Australian Open 2021💪https://t.co/FlsoONECF7
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) January 26, 2021
Petra Kvitova: Closed roof vibes Down Under
Closed roof vibes 🤷♀️ #ausopen pic.twitter.com/TIyA4CHaXk
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) January 26, 2021
Victoria Azarenka: Quarantine passing shots
What day is it? pic.twitter.com/FU4Lb4Qixy
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 25, 2021
What they’re saying
“If you cannot adapt, you are in a bad position.”
– Donna Vekic, quoted by The New York Times, in speaking about the pre-Australian Open hotel quarantine conditions in Melbourne, in which most players are confined to their hotels for all but five hours a day during their 14-day quarantine period.
What they’re writing
Does joy lead to success, or does success lead to joy? Are you happy because you win, or do you win because you are happy? These are questions that are explored by writer Liana Satenstein in a Vogue interview with Serena Williams. Find out how Williams is finding happiness in 2021.
On the phone from Melbourne, champion tennis player @SerenaWilliams shares how she’s maintaining balance during this time.https://t.co/sFAz8ziLj8
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) January 25, 2021
What they’re sharing on social media
Elina Svitolina / OK, let’s find that inner peace
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Uniqlo Ambassadors / Roger Federer at ease
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The Tennis Podcast / Billie Jean loves tennis
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