



Ash Sunday


Linda Pearce

On the rise: 15-year-old wildcard play-off winner Ashleigh Barty.

On the rise: 15-year-old wildcard play-off winner Ashleigh Barty. Photo: Getty Images

WILDCARD play-off winner Ashleigh Barty will next month become the youngest Australian woman in the main draw at Melbourne Park since the cautionary tale that was 15-year-old Olivia Lukaszewicz back in 2004. Lukaszewicz was crushed 6-0, 6-0 by top seed Justine Henin, then humbled in the juniors, and scarcely heard from again.

As far as these things can be predicted, a similar fate is unlikely to befall Barty on her grand slam debut. The junior Wimbledon champion says she is unsure how she will handle the occasion, but fixed on her approach: ''I'll probably go out there and play some horrendous tennis, and be nervous, but I'll just go out and have some fun.''

Again. The Queenslander arrived from the 18-and-under nationals just hoping to win a set last week; stunned and thrilled with the reality that she would not actually lose one. Her first victim was favourite and former No. 39 Casey Dellacqua, and her last world No. 167 Olivia Rogowska, Barty trailing 2-5 in a final she impressively completed 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 before Marinko Matosevic defeated teenager James Duckworth 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 in the men's event.

The prize was the Open accreditation pass that guarantees a minimum cheque of $20,000 and the chance to not just mingle with her idols but, possibly, play against one of them. ''I don't really want to think about it till then,'' said Barty, a self-confessed ''bit of a nerd'' whose Santa list also contains computer games and DVDs. ''I think I'll probably just keep to myself in the locker-room, just keep to myself and hide from everyone!''

But, clearly, loudly, the word is out. Has been for a while. She was hailed 12 months ago by John Fitzgerald as ''probably the best prospect we've had in 20 years in the women's game'' and by Scott Draper as a potentially more powerful version of the court-crafty Martina Hingis, or a modern take on silky Hana Mandlikova - except with a bigger serve. Her indigenous heritage has also drawn the obvious comparisons with one of her mentors, Evonne Goolagong.

Barty's coach, Tennis Australia consultant Jason Stoltenberg, has not seen a more talented Australian 15-year-old. ''When you talk about talent, there's her emotional talent and her ability to handle pressure, that's a talent in itself,'' he said. ''And she's had a coach by the name of Jim Joyce when she was young, and he's taught her a lot of good things and developed her love for tennis, and she's got the support of a good family. So I think a lot of those things contribute to that talent, but we still need to manage her carefully.''

Stroke-wise, Stoltenberg is constantly thankful for the slice backhand honed by Joyce - ''I ring him up occasionally and say 'jeez, thanks for that slice backhand', and she instinctively just seems to use it at the right time'' - as a valuable point of difference in a game notable for its variety and lack of any real holes, but also its capacity for continuing improvement in all areas, including strength.

This week, he said, should ''do wonders'' for her belief and perspective; perhaps show Barty that she is a little further along than she had thought.

''But I keep saying it: she's 15, and we can't get too overexcited,'' said Stoltenberg. ''I mean, it is exciting, but we've still got to try and keep it in perspective.

''We can't control what other people think and say, but that's a good problem to have, though, isn't it? If people are saying nice things about her and expecting good things of her, then that means she's been doing well, and she's doing something positive. And she's a pretty level-headed kid, as you can see. She just takes it in her stride, and she'll be back fishing tomorrow when she gets home.''

Stoltenberg remembers Lukaszewicz. Having lost the 1998 Adelaide final to a 16-year-old named Lleyton Hewitt, he has also witnessed the flipside, and is aware of the potential dangers and benefits of main draw exposure at such a young age. For now, having won this wildcard on merit, Barty is likely to receive others into the WTA lead-up events in both Brisbane and Hobart.

''We don't think for a second that we can just throw her anywhere and she's just going to continue to succeed,'' said Stoltenberg.

''Ash is doing really well now but the life of a tennis player tends to be a little bit up and down, so we've always got to try and stay ahead of the game and, first and foremost, manage her development as a person.

''So our schedule for the summer will be based around that and if we get to a point where we feel like it's too much, well, we won't be forced into doing anything. I'm not sure yet exactly what she's going to play in January, but obviously to play in her first grand slam is pretty exciting. And there's no pressure. She can just go out and let it rip.''


  • Tennis is a sport where you can be the number 1 ranked junior player in the world, then not even make it to the top 100 on the professional tour.

    Barty is a solid player at this stage of her development. She is consistent, plays with variety and stays level-headed in a match. Her development over the next couple of years is still vitally important and she needs to get stronger, faster and build on her weapons.

    If you look at the top 10 in the Women's game, they all have a big weapon. I am hoping that Barty can develop one and make it up there in a few years time. She is a really enjoyable tennis player to watch.

    Date and time
    December 12, 2011, 7:46AM
    • Wninning any major junior tennis event can be a curse for junior tennis players. How many Australia junior tennis players go on and establish themselves in the senior ranks?...zilch!..but why?

      In Australian tennis there is far too much accent on being a junior champion, rather than slowly "developing" into a professional player.

      Coaches love junior champions because it makes them look good and attracts more business. Tennis Australia loves junior champions because it makes them look good and attracts more funding for "junior" programmes and hence more funding for fat wages and corporate bennefits.

      Different kids develope at different times depending on growth and mental maturity. In junior tennis it is usually the shorter and faster kids with a lower centre point of gravity that win junior touraments, and accordingly they attract the funding because they are.."winning"..but then we never see them again.

      Tennis Australia should take a more long term approach to tennis developement rather than the "hey, looky here at all our junior champions, so give us more money" approach, and maybe then we can get a few more kids in the top 100.

      Date and time
      December 12, 2011, 12:04PM
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