Barty talks 'bizarre' coronavirus, 'tricky' isolation and an 'uncertain' future

Ash Barty has detailed the struggles she's facing adjusting to a strange COVID19 period so far.

The world number one has had her place at the top of the tennis tree temporarily secured by global tennis grinding to a halt, but that doesn't mean the 24-year-old wants to be anywhere than on the court.

“Just kind of sitting back, this is really bizarre,” she told The Herald Sun. “You’re preparing for that (hardcourt) swing and then you’re on a plane back to Australia.

“It’s different for everyone. For tennis players, there’s that uncertainty. We need for pretty much the whole world to be clear before we can start our tour again.

“Domestic competitions have the chance to get up running again, but for a global sport it’s a bit unique to be in that holding pattern.”

“It’s kind of tricky to train with the same intensity as always. Obviously, we’re still not sure when we’ll go back."

It's a rapidly changing world for women's sport and trying to separate the genuine dangers the COVID19 pandemic poses from the generic media hype is a challenge in itself.

But a potential merger between the WTA and ATP - something that would have been essentially unforseeable a couple of months ago - could spell an interesting future for women's tennis.

The move has already got the nod from Billie Jean King and Roger Federer, among others. Barty says her fellow WTA players are all talking about what's going to happen next.

“Now, it’s about maintaining for if and when we get an opportunity to play again this year, you can kinda flick that switch and go from there.”

“All these girls I’ve had really good relationships with and am good friends with on a personal level. We’re also chatting about what could be next for us and everyone is trying to get that new information.

“Overall, it’s been a bit of an adjustment but also lucky that it’s a time where you get to appreciate the little things in life, which is your health and your family.”