‘She makes it look easy’ – Top WTA rival compares ‘amazing’ Ashleigh Barty to Roger Federer

Paula Badosa has labelled Ashleigh Barty the ‘Roger Federer of women’s tennis’ right now following the world number one’s dominant run to the Australian Open title. 

Barty won her home Slam without dropping a set, only being pushed to drop more than four games in a set once.

That occasion came in the second set of the final against Danielle Collins, ousting the American in a tiebreak to seal the championship, her third Slam title.

Now, world number five Badosa has showered high praise on Barty as easily the best player on the WTA tour.

“I think all the tennis players are going to give you the same name, right?” Badosa told Punto de Break when asked which rival she wants to beat this season.

“I think Ashleigh Barty, when I saw her win in Australia it was incredible.

“I told my coach that I wanted to play her again to see how it feels.

“She makes everything easy, the tough matches, she makes them easy.

“It’s amazing how she plays tennis.

“She’s like [Roger] Federer on the men’s tour.

“She does everything with a lot of flow and very easy.

“I think she’s the one to beat.”

The two women have faced off twice before, both in 2021, both on clay.

Badosa downed Barty in the quarter-final of the 2021 Charleston Open in April before the Australian returned the favour in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open in May.

 

That Madrid Open really sparked a surge in form from Badosa.

The Spaniard rose from 62nd in the world before Madrid to finish 2021 ranked eighth in the world after qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals, reaching the semi-finals there before losing to eventual champion and compatriot Garbine Muguruza.

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