Tennis-Barty pull out of WTA Finals to focus on Australian Open preparations

World number one Ash Barty will not defend her WTA Finals title in Mexico next month as the Wimbledon champions decide to bring an early end to their 2021 season.

Barty won the season-ending tournament when it was last held in Shenzhen in November 2019, but the Australian will not travel to Guadalajara to participate in this year’s event, which runs from 10-17 November.

“I want to let everyone know that I will not be competing in any other tournaments, including the WTA Finals in Mexico in 2021,” Barty said in a statement. “It was a tough decision but I need to prioritize my body and my body. We focus on recovery from our 2021 season and having the strongest preseason for the Australian summer.”

Barty returned to Australia in September after a third round exit from the US Open, effectively ending a season during which she won five titles, including Wimbledon. He was earlier dropped from Australia’s squad that will play in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague next month.

The 25-year-old will now focus on building up to January’s Australian Open, where she will look to improve on her run to the quarter-finals in 2021.

“With the current challenges of traveling back to Queensland and the quarantine requirements, I am unwilling to compromise my preparation for January,” he said. “My focus is now on the Australian summer and I will do everything I can to win the Australian Open. I can’t wait to play again at home.”

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