Ashleigh Barty recaps her 2021 challenges and success with Vogue Australia

Ashleigh Barty recently celebrated her 100th week as world No. 1, but in her latest feature with Vogue Magazine no one would ever know that. The Aussie is as modest and gracious as they come, thanking her team more than once for her stellar 2021 season in her latest feature with Vogue Australia.

Back in early 2020 before COVID-19 changed the world, Barty wouldn't have believed what the next 18 months of her career would have looked like. She made the most out of the cards that were dealt and lived each day to the fullest and struck each ball as if it were her last.

“Once I was able to let go and accept it was going to be a year unlike any other, it was all about enjoying the adventure. And accepting everything for what it was and trying to find a way to enjoy the hard challenges, knowing there were going to be some really fundamental lessons to be learned," she told Vogue.

The Ipswich native's ability to accept challenges certainly showed on the court last season. She claimed five WTA titles, including a treasured Wimbledon run she won't soon forget. Never one to show emotion on the court besides a warm smile, she let go after winning the grass-court major. Wearing a bespoke dress in honor of Evonne Goolagong Cawley who won Wimbledon 50 years prior, tears flooded her eyes as she held the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy.

Her voice trembled, but she managed to get out:

"I hope I made Evonne proud."

During her interview with Vogue, Barty touches on the significance of that day and the amazing support group around her day in and day out.

"We had some challenges without a doubt—some tough injuries and moments where, in my mind, I thought it was all going to come crumbling down," she said. "But I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people who care for me as a human first before me as a tennis player.”

Currently back in the swing of things on her home soil she's back to her winning ways and remains undefeated so far. The world No.1 captured Adelaide's WTA 500 event in front of her home fans and seamlessly scored a 6-0, 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko to begin her Australian Open campaign. She then followed it up by moving past Lucia Bronzetti, 6-1, 6-1, and into the third round Down Under. Having played much of the 2021 season behind closed doors, she's most excited to put on a show for her Aussie fans and inspire the next generation.

“The summer months in Australia are just incredible for me personally and also in that it lights up my world seeing the opportunity [to inspire] young kids. I genuinely think that’s what I was put on this planet to do, to try and share my stories and help the young all through the nation in discovering what they want... I can’t wait to get out there," she said.

Next up for Barty is another Italian, Camila Giorgi.