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Ashleigh Barty was apparently done with tennis in September 2014 when she quit the sport and started to play cricket. Â It was an astonishing move because the talented Australian lefty Â was just eighteen at the time and already a three-time grand slam doubles finalist (with partner Casey Dellaqua). Â Suddenly and shockingly, Ashleigh’s tennis career was turned to ashes before it even really got going. Â Was this to be another tennis career tragedy? Fast forward to early 2016. Â Barty decides to return to professional tennis after this year’s Australian Open. Â Guess what? Barty’s return has translated to quick success. Â She reached the semifinals last week at the $50k ITF singles title in Eastbourne (losing to WTA no 94 Riske 67 57 after defeating Hantuchova, Paszek, and U. Radwanska). Today Barty won a first roundÂ match as a wildcard at the WTA Nottingham event beating Peng Shuai 63 60. Â She’s still just 20 years old. Â Could Barty become another one of the great comeback stories in pro tennis like Jennifer Capriati Â Alex Bogomolov Victor Estrella Jelena Dokic Andre Agassi and Brian Baker? Our fingers are crossed.

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