Amid the talk about her keeping the Number 1 ranking despite missing all the action last season, Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty has said that she deserves to be at the top of the pile.

The 24-year-old said she did not get to add to her points when the WTA froze the rankings last year while others got a chance to do so by virtue of playing more events and winning matches.

Ashleigh Barty says she didn’t get to add to her ranking points last year while other players did

The Aussie successfully defended her 2019 Miami Open title on Saturday after she won by virtue of a walkover from fellow finalist and current World Number 9 Bianca Andreescu.

Speaking to reporters after lifting her first Tour title of the year, Barty said, “I didn’t play at all last year and didn’t improve any of my points whatsoever.

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“There were girls who had a chance to improve theirs, so I felt like I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings.”

The Aussie won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2019 French Open and followed it up with a string of impressive performances that took her to the top of the rankings.

Being able to build on 2019 success has been great: Barty

Barty said 2019 was an “incredible” year in her career and she is happy to have added to her gains from 2019 by virtue of a successful title-defense in Miami.

“The year we had in 2019 was incredible…and to be able to build on that now has been great,” she said.

On whether she came into the Miami event with a point to prove to her detractors, the World Number 1 said she had nothing to prove to anyone as she had put in a lot of backroom work with her team even when she was away.

She added that the best way for players to silence doubters or detractors is to step out on the court and win games of tennis.

“We come out here and do the best that we can regardless of what anyone is saying,” Barty said.

The Aussie had already pocketed the opening set and was leading 4-0 in the second when Andreescu withdrew with an injury.

Read More: Ashleigh Barty Defends Her Miami Open 2021 Title After Bianca Andreescu Retires in the Championship Battle

Barring a miracle, Barty would have won the final handsomely, had it run its course.