Ashleigh Barty relaxed in successive Slams bid

Ashleigh Barty hopes to back up her French Open win by landing the Wimbledon title but insists she isn’t looking beyond her next opponent. The Australian claimed her first major title in Paris earlier this year and is now the world number one.

Serena Williams was the last player to win on the clay courts of the French capital and back that up on grass at the All England Club, while only two players have achieved that feat since 1988 – Steffi Graf (four times) and Williams (twice).

Barty, who is 5.25 to win Wimbledon outright, believes she is a contender at SW19 but is well aware of the task ahead of her if she is to lift the trophy.

“It’s a change of surface. Complete change in conditions, in everything. For only one person to have done it in 20 or so years, as you said, for it to be Serena, shows just how exceptionally hard it is,” said Barty, as reported by The Age.

“For me, it’s a possibility but it’s certainly not something we’re thinking about. It’s about going match by match, trying to do the best that I can in every single tennis match that we play here. If we can give ourselves the opportunity, that would be great.”

Barty brushed aside China’s Zheng Saisai in straight sets in her opener and takes on world number 54 Alison Van Uytvanck in the second round on Thursday. Barty is 1.33 to beat Van Uytvanck 2-0.