Ashleigh Barty withdraws from ‘sunshine double’

Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from both the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open this month.

The Australian number one has not played a match since her historic win at the Australian Open, where she was the first home-grown player to win the title in 44 years. It seems that her success at the Australian Open has hampered her preparations for the upcoming tournaments.

The three-time Grand Slam champion released a statement saying, ”Unfortunately my body has not recovered the way I’d hoped after the Australian Open and I have not been able to adequately prepare for Indian Wells and Miami.

“I don’t believe I am at the level necessary to win these events and as a result I have decided to withdraw from both tournaments. I love these events and am sad not to be there competing but getting my body right must be my focus.”

It is not the first time that Ashleigh Barty has taken a break from the tennis circuit, as she already took time off after her shock US Open defeat in September. As Barty has withdrawn from the ‘sunshine double’ she will be unable to defend her back to back Miami Open titles as well as potentially losing her top spot in the WTA rankings.

February has seen French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova move ahead of Aryna Sabalenka into the world No. 2 spot.

In form Iga Swiatek is the new World number 4 after winning the Qatar Open and Jelena Ostapenko, who was ranked at number 25 in the world just a month ago, is the new World number 12 in the WTA rankings.

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