“A New Challenge”: Ashleigh Barty Looks Ahead to European Clay Court Leg After Charleston Exit
Follow Us
After the high of Miami came the low at Charleston for women’s World No.1 Ashleigh Barty. The 24-year-old Australian fell to a chastening 4-6, 3-6 defeat to Spaniard Paula Badosa Gibert in the quarter-final of the ongoing event, which signaled the start of the women’s clay court swing.
The defeat will have served as a timely wake-up call for the 2019 French Open champion as she prepares for Roland-Garros this year.
Ashleigh Barty says she’s feeling excited to be switching to red clay on the European leg of women’s clay court season
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Speaking to EssentiallySports after finishing on the losing side of the last-eight clash, Barty looked ahead to her future challenges on the European leg of the clay court season.
Asked if she had set herself any targets or goals going into her upcoming battles on red clay at Stuttgart, Madrid, and Rome, the Aussie said it will be a different challenge playing in the European leg.
Trending
Coco Gauff Drops Adorable Wish to Celebrate Boyfriend’s Birthday Amid Hectic Madrid Open Stint
April 27, 2024 03:00 PM EDT
‘Why Are You So Stressed Out?’- Roger Federer’s Wife Mirka Turned Huge Inspiration for Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’, Confesses Script-Writer
April 28, 2024 03:49 PM EDT
Madrid Open 2024: Coco Gauff vs Madison Keys; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction
April 29, 2024 07:03 AM EDT
Madrid Open: Rafael Nadal Loses Cool at Chair Umpire Fergus Murphy in Heated Scenes After Getting Robbed Off a Challenge
April 27, 2024 04:30 PM EDT
Madrid Open 2024: Jakub Mensik vs Felix Auger-Aliassime; Preview, Head-to-Head, and Prediction
April 29, 2024 08:50 AM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Tennis stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
She added that playing on the red clay will pose a different set of challenges than competing on the green ones laid out in Charleston as no two surfaces, even on red soil, are similar.
Barty added that while it will take some time to adjust to the red clay, it’s a challenge she is excited to embrace.
“It obviously will take some time to get used to (the) conditions there and it’s a new challenge. It’s an exciting one and, and obviously in Madrid and Rome, they (surfaces) can be vastly different,” the Aussie said.
Ashleigh Barty she’d like to test herself in different match situations ahead of the French Open
Barty added that she is eagerly looking forward to playing on red soil and getting a good grip of the surface closer to the French Open.
The World No.1 said though the dirt beds at Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome will be nothing like Charleston, “they’ll be more similar, week to week”.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
She added that with matches under her belt on the red soil, she will also be able to test herself in different situations and try to come out of them.
“I think the more match simulation and kind of match pressures and match conditions that you can get on red clay becomes invaluable in those tight moments. So I think we just try and play as much as we can,” Barty said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
WATCH: Ash Barty Returns to Playing Cricket Before Australian Open 2021
The WTA Stuttgart event will kick off on April 17 and end on April 25.