Meet our modest, composed new world champion

Australia has a tennis player ranked No. 1 in the world. She has not been fined multiple times for bad on-court behaviour, she is modest, composed and down to earth and has no intention of changing – even though politicians, celebrities, the media and much of Australia are clamouring for her attention. Meet 23-year-old Queensland woman Ashleigh Barty.

Barty claims top spot today after her straight sets win in the final of the Birmingham Classic – becoming the first Australian No.1 since Lleyton Hewitt in 2003 and the first female Australian No.1 since Evonne Goolagong Crawley in 1976.

Barty, a former Wimbledon junior champion, lost her love for the game at the end of 2014 and played Big Bash cricket for Brisbane Heat before returning to tennis in 2016.

She was typically humble accepting the Birmingham Classic trophy early on Monday morning (AEST time), saying: “I'm a little bit speechless. It's been a whirlwind few weeks to be honest and to be able to follow in the footsteps of Evonne and even mentioned in the same sentence is incredible.

“It's been the most incredible journey for me and my team. You always dream about [being No.1] as a little kid, but for it to become a reality, it's incredible, and not something that was even in my realm. We were aiming for top 10 this year.”

Her coach, Craig Tyzzer, said: “She is a truly impressive person and deserves every success that comes her way. I couldn't be prouder to be her coach.”

Barty now heads to Eastbourne for her last Wimbledon lead-up event on the back of a 12-match winning streak. She is likely to be announced as the No.1 seed for Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July.

 

 

12 comments

just wonderful to see someone with a real down to earth character do so well.

just wonderful to see someone with a real down to earth character do so well.

From what I've seen on tv she really is a thoroughly decent young woman. Polite, quietly spoken, down to earth and very modest.

What a far cry from the loud mouthed, rude, vulgar, bighead, completely unlikeable attitude from a certain Aussie/Greek tennis player who does nothing but bring shame on our tennis players

Your attitude does you justice Ash.  Go win Wimbledon now!

Well we’ve got our tickets and can’t wait for November ..Ash Barty will lead Team Australia when it plays France in the two-day event on November 9 and 10 at the RAC Arena in Perth. It’s the first time WA has hosted the final since 1971 so lots of excitement here especially since the Barty wonder girl will be in a starring role!!

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Lovely to see. Good on her for her amazing effort.

Just wonderful!

A pleasure to watch her. A now quite rare good sport.

Cricketers, this was once you. Not all that long ago either.

Footballers probably seldom or never.

Have you not seen Sam Kerr of the Women's football team? She is another sportswoman graceful in defeat and modest in victory despite now being proclaimed the best female soccer player in the world. She was the first football player - male or female - to score 4 goals in a world cup and she immediately credited the rest of her team too.

Ash Barty is a worthy No. 1 - modest, conducts herself with graceful confidence on court., no bad language or attitude.

Many other top sports people could take a leaf out of her book.   So good to see such a well balanced Aussie on top - and

will be routing for her at Wimbledon to do us proud again.

Also agree re: Sam Kerr another worthy woman's sports person.

Wonderful girls with great attitude!  Let's not forget Hannah Green's great golfing win in US - another lovely girl, modest, well spoken and on top of her game. Best of luck to all three as they go forward.

Yes I agree Ash is  real model for our young girls to follow - so polite and so impressive in her manner. 

And has brought home glory for us all to share and modest with it. 

With apologies to Marx, "Sport is the opiate of morons".

We can only hope that the other two tennis headlines learn something about how compose oneself when representing your country.

12 comments



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