Adelaide: Ashleigh Barty plans to use next week’s ATP-WTA Adelaide International to put the final polish on her Australian Open preparations after a shock defeat in Brisbane.
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The world No. 1 headlines the new event starting on Sunday, part of a revised calendar in the run-up to the opening Grand Slam of the year which begins on January 20.
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The Australian star will be desperate for court time after crashing at the first hurdle this week to American qualifier Jennifer Brady at the Brisbane International.
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The men’s draw in Adelaide is spearheaded by Australian Alex De Minaur after world No. 2 Novak Djokovic pulled out on Saturday as he guides Serbia at the ATP Cup in Sydney, where they have made the final.
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Barty denied beginning the season as the top-ranked player in front of her home fans had put extra pressure on.
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“I’m just trying to do the best that I can and obviously … try and play my best tennis,” Barty, who is assured of keeping the top ranking through to the end of the Australian Open, said after her Brisbane exit on Thursday.
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She will begin in the second round at Adelaide, joining second seed Simona Halep with a bye.
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Former world No. 1 Halep, a finalist at Wimbledon last year, will be making her 2020 start with Adelaide-born coach Darren Cahill back in charge after taking a year off.
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Top 10 players Petra Kvitova and Kiki Bertens are also in the field, along with world No. 8 Belinda Bencic who was given a wildcard entry when Venus Williams withdrew injured.
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Barty had said she expected to quickly pick up the pieces of her game after her Brisbane setback.
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“It’s rare in sport that you get an opportunity every single week and so quickly … that’s one of the beautiful things about tennis,” she said.
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“The next week you get a chance in Adelaide to come out there and try and execute that little bit better.”
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Along with De Minaur, the men’s field features Russia’s Andrey Rublev and Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
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The now-retired Lleyton Hewitt, Australia’s Davis and ATP Cup captain, will try and re-live the old days, teaming with Jordan Thompson for the doubles.
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