Twenty 2020 Questions: Is Ash Barty ready to be a long-term No. 1?
The Australian's game is too good—and so much more complete than most of her opponents’— for her not to believe in it.
We're answering the 10 biggest questions on the WTA and ATP tours in 2020. The entire list will be rolled out here.
The 23-year-old seems to have it all: the smooth serve, the putaway forehand, the biting slice backhand and a nose for the net. She also has a French Open title, and the No. 1 ranking. The only thing missing is the intimidation factor. Barty is just 5’5”, which means she can’t win with overwhelming power alone.
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She’s also too down-to-earth to believe she should win every match she plays, the way so many champions do. After rising to No. 1 last June, Barty went four months without a title, yet gathered herself at year’s end to beat four Top-10 opponents on her way to winning the WTA Finals. Barty’s game is too good—and so much more complete than most of her opponents’— for her not to believe in it.
