Barty's season in doubt after shock withdrawal

3 years ago 322

World No.1 Ash Barty's play could beryllium over, aft she withdrew from 1 of the WTA Tour's astir prestigious tournaments.

The Australian has pulled retired of adjacent month's Indian Wells tournament, casting uncertainty implicit her docket for the remainder of 2021, having already indicated she was considering skipping the season-ending WTA finals successful Mexico.

Barty hasn't played since a 3rd circular loss to Shelby Rogers astatine the US Open, a lucifer wherever she blew a 5-2 pb successful the 3rd set.

After that lucifer she confirmed she would beryllium playing Indian Wells.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll beryllium there," she said.

But the Indian Wells tourney confirmed her lack this morning, meaning Barty volition articulation Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams connected the sidelines.

Barty's coach, Craig Tyzzer, said earlier this period that she would perchance skip the WTA finals, which she won successful 2019, citing the request to quarantine connected her instrumentality to Australia.

Tyzzer said that would beryllium little than perfect mentation for January's Australian Open, and besides noted that the conditions successful Mexico, which is 1500 metres supra oversea level, would beryllium particularly challenging.

Barty has been connected the roadworthy since March, with Australia's question restrictions making it intolerable for her to instrumentality location erstwhile she has a week off.

She holds a commanding pb astatine the apical of the satellite rankings, having added this year's Wimbledon crown to her Roland Garros rubric from 2019.

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