Barty seeks to end long Aussie drought with women's Wimbledon crown

Ashleigh Barty goes into Wimbledon buoyed, unlike her predecessor Naomi Osaka, by being world number one and with several of her major rivals struggling.

The engaging 23-year-old Australian -- who emulated compatriot Evonne Goolagong Cawley by becoming number one last weekend -- has yet to get beyond the third round at Wimbledon.

However, by winning the Birmingham tournament last weekend Barty showed she has the strengths to add the grass court Grand Slam to the French Open she won on clay and become the first Australian women's champion since Goolagong Cawley's second success in 1980.

With 37-year-old seven-time champion Serena Williams finally showing signs of age, Osaka looking exposed through poor form and two-time Wimbledon singles champion Petra Kvitova still easing back to top form after an arm injury, defending champion Angelique Kerber may be the biggest threat to Barty.

Barty, who took an unconventional route to becoming world number one by taking a time off to play cricket, insists she feels no pressure.

"The only pressure is that that I put on myself," she said. "To make sure that I do everything correctly and prepare as best that I can to try and play a good tennis match, try and play well, to enjoy myself."
"It's a little bit bizarre coming into Wimbledon having only played one grass court tournament. "We feel like we've been striking the ball really well, we're comfortable with the grass under our feet."
"I think she has a great game. I think she's really even-tempered. She's just really chill. She's had a really good year."
- 'Take the positive' -
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"I'm just going to do the best that I can now that I'm here," she said, adding with a smile: "I know how to play tennis."
The 21-year-old says the number one spot she held earlier this year had been a millstone round her neck: "Mentally it was way more stress and pressure than I could have imagined."
"I feel like it (grass) should be good for me because it's very heavily reliant on the first serves, being the first person to be aggressive."