American tennis legend Pam Shriver has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Ash Barty, predicting another player will take over the world No. 1 ranking by the end of 2022.
The Australian has been on the top of the world rankings for 101 consecutive weeks and finished the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons as the best women’s player in the world.
Barty first claimed world No. 1 ranking shortly before winning her first grand slam title at the French Open in 2019, and she hasn’t looked back since.
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The 25-year-old won Wimbledon and four other titles in 2021 — the most out of any player on the WTA — to silence sceptics who believed her hold on the No. 1 spot was aided by the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tour in 2020.
She was also named the WTA player of the year in 2021.
Barty enters 2022 with a 1202-point lead over world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka and she will go in to the Australian Open as one of the favourites to take out her home grand slam.
However Shriver, who won 22 grand slam doubles titles throughout her career, believes “someone else” will take over as world No. 1 this year, ending Barty’s run at the top.
“I think there will be a new No. 1,” Shriver said in an interview with the WTA.
“I’m not exactly sure whom, but I think Ash has had a great run and I think it could be somebody in the top 5.”
Shriver nominated two-time grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza or Sabalenka, who made the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the US Open, as the players most likely to take the mantle from Barty.
“I’m looking at the points, and I think the most likely one is Garbine Muguruza,” she said.
“It could be Aryna Sabalenka, if she buries those demons. It wasn’t just what Garbine showed at Guadalajara, but she and (coach) Conchita (Martinez) have developed a solid partnership.
“I feel she’s underachieved in the last couple of years, but I think the second half of 2021 she started to show more of the promise that took her to a French and a Wimbledon title.”
Barty ended her 2021 season after the US Open, opting not to compete in the WTA Finals in Mexico and return to Australia.
While Shriver acknowledged this will advantage Barty as she will have less ranking points to defend in 2022, the doubles legend still believes “someone else” will become world No. 1 this year.
“I’m looking at Ash’s lead and it’s not insignificant,” Shriver said.
“Here’s the thing: After the US Open, Ash lost to Shelby Rogers and then she shut down her year. So if she wanted to chase the year-end ranking – and who knows where the WTA is going to go after the US Open with China for the moment out of play – let’s say it’s something that makes sense for Ash. Certainly, she’s got no points falling off after that.
“But I feel like Ash Barty, as great as she is, I don’t see her as being on top for 154 consecutive weeks. She’s so solid, but I just think someone else is going to step up.”
Barty gets her 2022 season underway at the Adelaide International on Tuesday.
She told reporters she will need to be patient as she returns to competitive action for the first time since the US Open in September.
“I love to try to get better each and every day,” Barty said.
“I’m excited now to try and bring it all together as best that I can and understand in the next couple of weeks I’ll have to be patient with myself.
“It has been a while since I’ve played a competitive match, but I feel good, I feel ready.”
Barty, who has a first-round bye in Adelaide, said results last year showed that there was now enormous depth in the women’s game — and with that come challengers to her top ranking.
“There’s fresh challengers every year regardless of who is what spot on the ranking list,” said Barty, who last year became the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.
“Girls really stepped up, were able to play really consistent seasons which is exciting to see for the women’s game.
“It feels like it’s just good competition.
“Genuinely there is really good depth and you have to bring your best time and time again to be able to compete with everyone and give yourself a chance to win the big titles.”
— with AFP