Ashleigh Barty decided that it is finally time for her to compete outside Australia so as to challenge the likes of Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams at the upcoming Miami Open. The world no.1 has always been quite reluctant about traveling during the pandemic, but now she changed idea.
During a recent interview with Wally Lewis for Nine News Queensland, Barty commented:
“You weigh up the risk for your reward, and what you’re willing to accept. I feel like now we are in a comfortable position, knowing that the tour is doing the right things and we are going to be in a safe environment. If that changes, I’ll be on the first plane home.”
In the WTA rankings, Naomi Osaka is getting closer and closer to Ashleigh Barty to represent a serious threat to her world no.1 rank after the Japanese no.1 won the last 2 slams (US Open and Australian Open)
While on the men’s side many top players decided not to compete at the Miami Open, the field on the WTA side will be extremely strong with the presence of all the top players.
Miami Open – Entry list
This is the latest entry list of the Miami Open
Main Draw
1 Barty, Ashleigh (AUS)
2 Osaka, Naomi (JPN)
3 Halep, Simona (ROU)
4 Kenin, Sofia (USA)
5 Svitolina, Elina (UKR)
6 Pliskova, Karolina (CZE)
7 Williams, Serena (USA)
8 Sabalenka, Aryna (BLR)
9 Andreescu, Bianca (CAN)
10 Kvitova, Petra (CZE)
11 Bertens, Kiki (NED)
12 Bencic, Belinda (SUI)
13 Brady, Jennifer (USA)
14 Azarenka, Victoria (BLR)
15 Muguruza, Garbiñe (ESP)
16 Konta, Johanna (GBR)
17 Mertens, Elise (BEL)
18 Swiatek, Iga (POL)
19 Keys, Madison (USA)
20 Vondrousova, Marketa (CZE)
21 Martic, Petra (CRO)
22 Muchova, Karolina (CZE)
23 Rybakina, Elena (KAZ)
24 Kontaveit, Anett (EST)
25 Sakkari, Maria (GRE)
26 Kerber, Angelique (GER)
27 Riske, Alison (USA)
28 Putintseva, Yulia (KAZ)
29 Vekic, Donna (CRO)
31 Jabeur, Ons (TUN)
32 Anisimova, Amanda (USA)
33 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
34 Kudermetova, Veronika (RUS)
35 Wang, Qiang (CHN)
36 Zhang, Shuai (CHN)
37 Collins, Danielle (USA)
38 Kuznetsova, Svetlana (RUS)
39 Strycova, Barbora (CZE)
40 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia (RUS)
41 Stephens, Sloane (USA)
42 Linette, Magda (POL)
43 Pegula, Jessica (USA)
44 Podoroska, Nadia (ARG)
45 Ferro, Fiona (FRA)
46 Garcia, Caroline (FRA)
47 Zheng, Saisai (CHN)
47 Shvedova, Yaroslava (KAZ) SR
48 Bouzkova, Marie (CZE)
49 Ostapenko, Jelena (LAT)
50 Hsieh, Su-Wei (TPE)
51 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)
52 Gauff, Cori (USA)
53 Rogers, Shelby (USA)
54 Siegemund, Laura (GER)
55 Hercog, Polona (SLO)
56 Sevastova, Anastasija (LAT)
57 Kasatkina, Daria (RUS)
58 Cornet, Alizé (FRA)
59 Peterson, Rebecca (SWE)
60 Tig, Patricia Maria (ROU)
61 Teichmann, Jil (SUI)
62 Kanepi, Kaia (EST)
63 Krejcikova, Barbora (CZE)
64 Watson, Heather (GBR)
65 Pera, Bernarda (USA)
67 Cirstea, Sorana (ROU)
68 Siniakova, Katerina (CZE)
69 Blinkova, Anna (RUS)
70 Sorribes Tormo, Sara (ESP)
71 Li, Ann (USA)
72 Begu, Irina-Camelia (ROU)
73 Badosa, Paula (ESP)
74 Tomljanovic, Ajla (AUS)
75 Pliskova, Kristyna (CZE)
76 Williams, Venus (USA)
77 Hibino, Nao (JPN)
Alternates
78 Rus, Arantxa (NED)
78 Zvonareva, Vera (RUS) SR
79 Kostyuk, Marta (UKR)
80 Giorgi, Camila (ITA)
80 Petkovic, Andrea (GER) SR
81 Brengle, Madison (USA)
82 Davis, Lauren (USA)
83 Kovinic, Danka (MNE)
84 Diyas, Zarina (KAZ)
84 Potapova, Anastasia (RUS) SR
85 McHale, Christina (USA)
85 Boulter, Katie (GBR) SR
86 Doi, Misaki (JPN)
87 Fernandez, Leylah (CAN)
90 Trevisan, Martina (ITA)
91 Juvan, Kaja (SLO)
92 Flipkens, Kirsten (BEL)
93 Zidansek, Tamara (SLO)
94 Gracheva, Varvara (RUS)
95 Stojanovic, Nina (SRB)
Ashleigh Barty in 2021
Ranked no.1, the Australian played her last match on the 24th of February when she surrendered to Danielle Collins 6-3 6-4 in the 2nd round in Adelaide (draw).
Until now, during this year Ashleigh has achieved a compiled 8-2 record. The Australian has won 1 title in Melbourne.
Naomi Osaka in 2021
Currently ranked no.2, the Japanese played her last match on the 20th of February when she defeated Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Australian Open to win her 7th career title.
During this season Osaka has managed to achieve a compiled 10-0 match record. Naomi has won 1 title at the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka fought against each other 4 times. Their head to head is 2-2. Previously, the last time they played each other, Naomi Osaka won 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final in Beijing (China Open) in October 2019.
Here the video highlights.
Serena Williams in 2021
Ranked no.7, Serena Williams played her last match on the 18th of February when she lost to Naomi Osaka 6-3 6-4 in the semifinal of the Australian Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season the American has a 8-1 record. Serena Williams’s most significant result of the current season was reaching the semifinal in Melbourne and at the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty and Serena Williams |
| Embed from Getty Images |
