“It Was a Pleasure Watching Ashleigh Barty Play” – Roger Federer

23-year-old tennis player from Australia, Ashleigh Barty switched her career from cricket to tennis in 2016.  In less than three years after making that brave move, Barty attained the top spot on the WTA roster along with a major title. Her achievements do impress the world, but on top of that, her crafty style of play amuses the tennis audience.  One of her admirers is the Swiss legend, Roger Federer. He enjoys watching her play. Her slices from behind the baseline and net charging skills add a different flavor to the game of tennis.

“What a year she’s had; it was a pleasure watching her play,” Roger Federer said. “I like how she mixes it up, she uses the slice to great effect and she’s got variety.” In 2019 Ash Barty made her Grand Slam breakthrough at Roland Garros. Her match-winning streak did not end there. She went on to claim the title in Birmingham which drove her to WTA’s apex. 

Roger Federer gives Ash Barty some tips to stay on the top

Barty began the 2020 season as the World Number one tennis player. Federer gave her some insights to maintain her niche. He holds an unpredicted record of staying on top for 237 successive weeks. None of the ATP men have achieved that record so far and no one seems to surpass that glory in the near future.

“She can have a different mindset. It can relax you and you can really explore all of your potentials and that’s what happened to me when I won my first major, and I broke through as world No.1 after that. I thought, ‘Well now I’m the guy to beat and I prefer to be in this position rather than being a contender’. I hope that Ash is also going to see it that way,” Roger Federer added.

The Australian ace defeated the reigning champion Elina Svitolina at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen. With that, she claimed one more prestigious title in 2019. Her doubles endeavors in tandem with Victoria Azarenka hit a home run. They lifted up the title in Rome and later reached the finals at the US Open 2019. And now she is the favorite for her home Slam in Melbourne.

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“I shouldn’t be the favorite” – Federer ahead of Australian Open 2020

38-year-old Roger Federer doesn’t consider himself as the Australian Open 2020 favorite. However, over the past three years the ‘Big Three’ of tennis have lifted all the majors. “I’m aware that at 38 I shouldn’t be the favorite, it should be someone probably in their 20s, but the three of us have been able to stay as the favorites which are great for us,” Federer said.