2 months ago
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Ash Barty has encouraged Australian teenager and next big thing Emerson Jones to be “kind to herself” ahead of an Australian Open where she will attract more attention than ever.
Jones, 17, is a significant part of an Australian women’s tennis uprising, alongside fellow teenager Maya Joint, 21-year-old Talia Gibson and 20-year-old Taylah Preston, while veterans Daria Kasatkina, Ajla Tomljanovic and Kim Birrell are all inside the top 100.
Emerson Jones is tipped to achieve great things in tennis.Credit: Getty Images
US-born Joint, 19, is set to be the first Australian woman to be seeded at the Open since Barty won the 2022 title, while ex-junior world No.1 Jones – often dubbed the next Barty – is at a career-best WTA ranking of No.151.
Jones, who hit with Barty before last year’s Wimbledon championships, made her grand slam main draw debut at Melbourne Park in January, and secured her spot in next month’s Open as the best-performed player in the Australian Pro Tour wildcard race.
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“I think what’s exciting for ‘Emmo’ is she’s earned that Australian Open wildcard through the last few ITFs here in Australia, so now she can set her schedule and aim in this next five or six weeks to peak for the Australian Open,” Barty told this masthead.
“The only expectation that she can ever have for herself is that she’s prepared for the first week of the Australian Open. She can’t control whether she wins or loses, what’s written about her, or how much she’s in the media.”
Barty, who spoke to this masthead as part of a promotion for Amazon Flex in the lead-up to Christmas, is buoyant about Australia’s emerging crop of women’s players – but preached patience for them.
“We’ve got a nice group of young girls who are in their first year or two on tour, and experiencing things for the first time,” she said.
“It’s really exciting for me to see them have that opportunity and learn all the things that I learned, a few too many years ago. It’s important to be patient, and understand that good things take time.
“For these young girls, it’s about the experience and learning what it’s like to manage a full schedule on tour, how to handle second weeks of grand slams, and all these things [that happen] along the way.”
Ash Barty made deliveries in Brisbane.
Barty continues to be impressed with Alex de Minaur, including his transformation from a player who once provided only nuisance value to the world’s best, to being a top-10 staple and six-time major quarter-finalist.
The triple grand slam champion sidestepped questions on how de Minaur could gatecrash the top five and go deeper at the grand slams, but was optimistic about his prospects of doing both.
“I hope that he can take that next step because I think he’s capable. It’s just about when it happens,” she said.
“‘Demon’ works so hard, and there’s no ego with him. He goes out there and tries to master his trade as best that he can, and he’s been bloody successful at it.
Alex de Minaur is entrenched in the top 10.Credit: Getty Images
“There are a lot of things that come into [being a top player], but I think first and foremost, and probably most importantly, is when that opportunity arises, you need to be ready ... and courageous and brave enough to take that next step.”
Now aged 29 and mother to son Hayden, 2½, and daughter Jordan, six months, Barty rarely has time these days for even a social hit of tennis or golf.
She also insists she is not even thinking about a time in the distant future when she might get involved in Australian tennis again.
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“[Being a mum] is everything that I’ve ever wanted. I have the best job in the world. I get to be a mum to two healthy, happy kids who are growing and changing every day, so I wouldn’t change a thing,” Barty said.
“As an athlete, sometimes you need to be selfish, to make sure that you’re ready … whereas when I’m at home with the kids, it’s completely selfless. Everything I do is centred around them, and I absolutely love it.”
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