World number one Ash Barty withdrew from the Indian Wells tennis tournament and the Miami Open on Thursday, saying her body has not recovered after her triumph at the Australian Open in January.
Ashleigh Barty is retiring from Indian Wells and Miami, targeting an April return (Twitter Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ashleigh Barty is retiring from Indian Wells and Miami
- The Miami Open tournament director said he hopes Barty can return quickly
- I love these events and I’m sad not to be there: Barty
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from upcoming WTA 1000 hard-court events at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California and the Miami Open.
Indian Wells starts next week and if she had played it would have been Barty’s first appearance there since 2019. The Miami Open, where Barty is the two-time defending champion, begins March 21.
“Unfortunately, after the Australian Open, my body didn’t recover as I had hoped and I wasn’t able to adequately prepare for Indian Wells and Miami,” Barty said. “I don’t think I’m at the level required to win these events and have therefore decided to retire from both tournaments.
“I love these events and I’m sad not to be there, but my focus has to be on getting my body right.”
Her withdrawal means Indian Wells will be without both players who made it to the women’s finals in the first Major of the season. Danielle Collins, the highest-ranked American in the women’s rankings at No. 11, attributed her decision not to play there to ongoing injuries.
Miami Open tournament director James Blake said he hopes Barty can return quickly.
“I know this was an extremely difficult decision for Ashleigh and understand how important it is for players to prioritize their health,” Blake said.
Barty ended a 44-year Australian women’s drought at the Australian Open when she won the singles title at Melbourne Park in late January. It was her third Grand Slam singles title and her first on hard after her victories on grass at Wimbledon and on clay at the French Open.
