By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday January 3, 2022
Former World No.1 Ash Barty won’t be defending her Australian Open title this year, but the Queensland legend will be on site in a tennis capacity.
Barty will be there to support 20-year-old Australian Olivia Gadecki, according to AAP.
Barty has been mentoring Gadecki for several years, and will feature in that capacity at the Australian Open, where Gadecki, ranked 202, has received a main draw wild card.
"I've been really fortunate to always be able to contact her if I have any questions or if I need advice, she's always been there for me," Gadecki told AAP at the United Cup in Sydney this week. "The best part is she just treats me like a normal person and we can relate in that regard and off court is just as important as on court."
Barty, who retired from tennis last year while holding the No.1 ranking, is a three-time major winner in singles, and a one-time Slam champion in women’s doubles. She also took home the Olympic Bronze medal in mixed doubles in 2022. She is 26 years of age.
Gadecki will be making her Grand Slam debut. She owns a 1-5 lifetime record against the WTA’s Top 100.