SEN tennis expert and The First Serve's Brett Phillips believes Ash Barty couldn’t be in a better place heading into her home grand slam at the Australian Open.
Barty, a two-time grand slam champion and the current world number one, has had an ideal lead in to the tournament, most recently winning the Adelaide International final in straight sets over Elena Rybakina.
While her best result previously at Melbourne Park is a semi-final appearance in 2020, Phillips says Barty will be “so hard to beat” in 2022 due to her flawless preparation.
“It’s one game at a time for Ash,” Phillips said on SEN Breakfast.
“But I always feel confident that if she’s on top of her game, executing and not making those simple errors, then Barty is so hard to beat. But, it’s not a given.
“This is her best prep, she’s looked fantastic, winning Adelaide, you couldn’t have asked for a better preparation.”
While the Queenslander will have the hopes of a nation resting on her shoulders, Phillips believes Barty won’t feel any outside pressure as she strives to become the first Australian woman to win a grand slam on home soil since Chris O’Neil in 1978.
“Now, it’s onto the main court, but I don’t think Ash - and I say this seriously - I don’t feel like she feels any pressure from the outside,” he said.
“It’s her and her team just going about their business, great perspective and balance.
“If it’s not this year, she’ll come back and keep trying, she’s 25, we’re going to be blessed for a few years yet.”
Barty is set to meet unseeded Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko in the first round of the tournament on centre court on Monday night.
However, she does have a tricky draw after that and could meet last year's Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round.