When Ashleigh Barty walked away from the game of tennis in 2014, it seemed as if the whole continent of Australia let out a deflated sigh that could be felt across the Pacific. The most decorated and hyped junior talent in the country had stirred something deep and longing in the tennis tradition rich nation–and with her burn out and indefinitely leave–that fire seemed distinguished. But just as the best narratives do, a twist came for the nation of Australia–a return to the game by the crafty and powerful Barty. A return that has seen her find a voice and confidence in her game. Ashleigh Barty takes on American upstart Shelby Rogers in Margaret Court Arena today in a 2nd round match, creating a potential banner day for Barty and Australia.

When Barty left the game of tennis, she had already been compared to the former world #1 Martina Hingis an innumerable amount of times. Similar in stature and game, the crafty Barty would construct points full of various spins, depths, angles, and speed. Many saw a potential difference in the two games as Barty occasionally could crack big ground-strokes off both sides. As her results sputtered in 2013 and 2014, the confidence to go for those big shots seemed to be sputtering as well. Since her return in 2016, the pop on her forehand and backhand have returned and been in full force. 2017 saw her start her campaign in Brisbane where she lost in three tough sets to world #1 Angelique Kerber. In the match Barty was not afraid to try and crack the winner from both sides, off balls short in the court, or from even on the run. If Barty can continue to couple these large strokes with her natural ability to drop shot and attack the net, not only should she find results against the hard hitting Rogers, but against anyone she plays throughout the season.

Beyond her big hitting, Barty also seems to have found more confidence and desire to win. 2016 saw her climb her way through Futures events, to Challengers, to main draw tour stops. After making the semis at the prestigious Eastbourne Challenger, Barty then made the quarters of the WTA stop in Nottingham, losing a tough match to US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova. Whether from natural maturity, or from her successful stint as a professional cricket player, Barty has recaptured that desire and grit that made her such a formidable juniors champion and doubles player on tour. Throughout this return, Barty has let her positive emotions out on the court: fist pumps, yells, shouts of “come on,” raised arms to her box, and steely stare downs across the net. All of these are outward symbols of a hardcore inner desire to win and be the best at a game she is so naturally suited for. In tonight’s match with Rogers, on the historic Margaret Court Arena, it is only expected that the raucous Aussie fans will only bolster this confidence and pride with their organized chanting, their Aussie flags waving, their shouts of “We love you Ashleigh”; not only are Australia and Barty poised for a banner day, but the sport of tennis itself is poised for a special moment tonight–that rare electric atmosphere that transmits beyond the court across TV signals and streams to the avid tennis fan hunched over the iPad watching the late night stream while eating ramen out of a plastic cup.

Regardless of the outcome tonight, Barty has not only found excitement in her own game and career again, but has drawn both a nation and a sport into her much chronicled return with her game and her passion for play. In a sport that is questioning who will assume the rolls of so many of it’s aging stars in the next few years, Barty seems to have raised her hand as if to show the world, “I am here.” And the world is watching and listening.

Main Photo: