The two main attractions of Australian tennis are back in competition this week after almost a year without a formal match.
Like their country, world number one Barty and the whimsical Kyrgios did not take covid-19 lightly. Very concerned about the global health situation, the Australian played it safe and did not have to force to postpone her return to the circuit, she who has not been seen in official competition since February 27, 2020. Ashleigh Barty then lost in the semi-finals of the Doha tournament against Petra Kvitova, before disappearing from the radar when the coronavirus appeared. Even when competition resumed last summer, the world number one preferred to stay at home, in Australia, notably bypassing the US Open and Roland Garros, of which she was the defending champion. “There are two reasons for my decision: the first is the health risks that still exist because of the Covid. The second is my preparation, which was not ideal when my coach was unable to train with me because of the border closures in Australia.e» she had then explained.
Thanks to the WTA points freeze, she still occupies the first place in the world rankings, after an almost blank year. But at some point, you have to pick up the thread of your career. It will be in the Australian night against Ana Bogdan in the first round of the Yarra valley classic. The native of Ipswich played her first game of the season last weekend at the exhibition in Adelaide, against Romania’s Simona Halep. Even if she ended up losing, she confided to have liked this return to the business: “I trained these last months, but nothing beats the match that we produced. We wanted to play good tennis, I liked it a lot and that is the most important. If I am not up to par next week, well it will be the next week, I will have other opportunities to do my best. Either way, it’s damn good to be back. “
“I’m not going to lie, I haven’t missed tennis so much”
Nick kyrgios
Second most appreciated local player and prophet in his country, Nick Kyrgios does not display, according to him, the same enthusiasm a few hours to find the courts. In the midst of a pandemic, the brilliant but intermittent 25-year-old player put tennis on hold and has not left his country which has experienced drastic confinement. During this period, he notably mentioned the idea of storing rackets to devote himself to online video games … He faces this Tuesday the Frenchman Alexandre Müller, 208th at the ATP in the first round of the Murray River Open. To evoke his comeback, Kyrgios did Kyrgios: “I’m not going to lie, I haven’t missed tennis so much. In my free time, I didn’t think about tennis at all. My mother was not in good health. I was focusing on things that really matter to me personally. Tennis is not my top priority for me. “
“Nobody knows who’s fit and who isn’t. I will see from day to day and try to take as much pleasure as possible “
Nick kyrgios
He was in any case missed by many fans of the little yellow ball. His defeat after a magnificent fight against Rafael Nadal in 8e the final (6-3, 3-6, 7-6 [6], 7-6 [4]), was his last official match. In front of its audience, the 47e world could find the desire to want. Not good news for the competition, because when it wants, it can be formidable. And we want to believe him when he slips: “Mentally, I feel totally regenerated, ready to get back to it. I feel like I’m playing well and I’m ready. Either way, everyone is sailing on sight right now. No one knows who is fit and who is not. I will see day by day and try to have as much fun as possible. “
.
