Ash Barty lifts the lid on Naomi Osaka claim that left her 'angry'
The three-time major winner says the controversial topic left her fuming during her tennis career.
Ash Barty has lifted the lid on a controversial debate around Naomi Osaka that often overshadowed the Australian's reign at the top of women's tennis. Barty shocked the tennis world in 2022 after retiring from the sport as the World No.1, having just won the Australian Open title for the third major of her career.
Before her Australian Open crown and Wimbledon title the year before, Barty's status as World No.1 was often scrutinised by tennis fans, who claimed Osaka was the true No.1. The argument stemmed from the fact Barty held onto her status as the best player in the women's game after the WTA froze rankings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Barty opted to stay in Australia for the majority of 2020 and not worry about losing the No.1 ranking because of the revamped WTA system. Osaka's subsequent win in the 2021 Australian Open - the fourth grand slam singles title of her career - further strengthened claims from her fans that the Japanese star was the true No.1.
Speaking on Hamish McLachlan's Let’s Talk podcast, Barty admitted the suggestion she was unworthy of the World No.1 status left her fuming before her famous triumph in the 2022 Australian Open. “There was plenty of noise [before the tournament],” Barty said.
“[People were asking], ‘Is Ash the best player in the world?’ And that made me angry. That really p****d’ me off because I know I am the best player in the world.”
Barty first rose to World No.1 in June 2019 before briefly being replaced by Osaka. The Aussie regained her status at the top of the women's game four weeks later and held onto the position until her retirement in 2022.
By the time Barty was finally usurped by Iga Swiatek at the top of women's tennis, the Aussie had spent a total of 121 weeks there, putting her seventh on the all-time list for most weeks spent at No 1. Barty finished her career with an impressive 15 titles – including three majors and three WTA 1000 titles.
Calls for Ash Barty to return after becoming a mother
Like Osaka, the Aussie just gave birth to her first child - a son named Hayden - earlier this month. The difference between Osaka and Barty is that the former revealed her intentions to come back to tennis in 2024 after becoming a mother.
Following the birth of her son, Barty also faced calls from across the tennis world to make a comeback and follow in the footsteps of Caroline Wozniacki, who returns after giving birth to her second child. Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka were among those hoping Barty would one day return to tennis after becoming a mum.
"Fantastic news. I'm very happy for her that she had a baby boy. I'm very happy for her because this is something that I want to have, a family," Jabeur said after her first round victory at Wimbledon. "I'm sure she's enjoying being a mum right now rather than being on a tennis court waiting to play at Wimbledon. I hope that she will change her mind like Wozniacki and comes back maybe in one or two years."
Sabalenka added: "I definitely think she has everything to come back. She's very talented. I feel like she already made it once. I think if she's going to decide to come back playing tennis, she's going to do well."
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