World number one Ash Barty has earned a late wildcard into the Adelaide International, following her Shock defeat in Australian Open quarter-finals.
Key points:
- Barty is the reigning champion of the WTA event
- She and other players received exemptions from travel restrictions
- The six-day tournament begins Monday at Memorial Drive.
Barty is the reigning champion at WTA event in Adelaidewhich starts Monday.
In a statement posted on the tournament website, Barty said she felt “grateful to be able to play another week in front of the Australian fans”.
“I can’t wait to get back to Adelaide and have the opportunity to defend my title,” Barty said.
The top-ranked tennis player bowed out of the Australian Open on Wednesday, losing her quarterfinal to Karolína Muchová in three sets.
Barty was recently in Adelaide for the Day at the Drive exhibit at Memorial Drive Tennis Complex.
South Australia reopened its border with regional Victoria during the week, but is still imposing restrictions on arrivals from Greater Melbourne.
But Barty is one of more than 300 players and support teams who received exemptions, allowing them to participate in the tournament.
“The players have been subjected to a lot of testing and they’ve also been in isolation for five days… so we’re certainly comfortable with the discussions we’ve had with SA Health in terms of running this event,” tournament director Alistair MacDonald said on Wednesday.
Emily Kirkpatrick, South Africa’s deputy director of public health, said restrictions would still apply.
“In allowing them to pass through the training area, they will also be required to wear a mask when they undertake this and ensure that they have no contact with the public,” Dr Kirkpatrick said.
MacDonald said he was “thrilled to welcome” Barty back to Memorial Drive.
“Ash brings so much energy to the field and it shows in everyone who has the privilege of watching her in the stands,”
he said.
South African Prime Minister Steven Marshall also welcomed the news of the world number one’s return.
“Ash has had a lot of success here at Memorial Drive over the past two years and we will welcome him with open arms and cheer him on from the first serve,” he said.
The six-day tournament runs Monday through Saturday.
Several other players in the top 20 are on the tournament roster, including Canadian Bianca Andreescu and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic.
