Is the Barty party over? Aussie star's world No. 1 ranking is in jeopardy after shock loss
- Ash Barty's world No. 1 ranking could be in jeopardy after she suffered early loss
- The Australian crashed out to 29th-ranked American Sofia Kenin in Toronto
- She could lose No. 1 ranking to Japan's Naomi Osaka or Czech Karolina Pliskova
Ash Barty's world No. 1 ranking could be in jeopardy after the tennis star suffered a shock early loss during the Canadian Open's first round.
The Australian star crashed out to 29th-ranked American Sofia Kenin in the second round on Tuesday at the Rogers Cup in Toronto on Tuesday.
Barty, who played for the first time since falling in the last 16 at Wimbledon, struggled in the second set and lost 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 to Kenin.
Ash Barty's world No.1 ranking could be in jeopardy after the tennis star suffered a shock early loss during the Canadian Open's first round (pictured)
Barty (pictured with boyfriend Garry Kissick) said 'a little bit of rust' had crept into her game
The 2019 French Open champion could lose her No.1 ranking to Japan's Naomi Osaka if she wins her second-round match against German qualifier Tatjana Maria
Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova also has the chance to take the top ranking this week but must reach the semi-finals to have any hope.
Before the match Barty revealed that she hadn't played any tennis for two weeks after Wimbledon and said 'a little bit of rust' crept into her game.
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'At times I was missing by big margins, which is not something that I'm used to or comfortable with but it's not panic stations,' the 23-year-old told the WTA.
'It's my first match on hardcourt in a long time.'
Barty took the first set against Kenin after racing out to a 5-1 lead in the tiebreaker.
But Kenin then took control of proceedings in the second, carving out a 4-0 lead before stifling a three-game Barty comeback to take the match to a third set.
United States tennis player Sofia Kenin shakes hands with Ash Barty following a first round match on Day 4 of the Rogers Cup
World No.29 Kenin nearly squandered a 4-1 cushion in the decider but held her nerve and closed out the match when a misfiring Barty sent a routine forehand long.
'It's very different conditions here and different coming from home, training in winter at the moment, where the ball is a little lower and here it's quite lively and quick off the racquet,' Barty said.
'All in all, I didn't adjust well enough or quick enough to the conditions how I needed to.'
This is the first victory for Kenin against the 23-year-old Australian champion after meeting four times, and is her first win over a top-five WTA player.
Barty (pictured with boyfriend Garry Kissick) revealed that she hadn't played any tennis for two weeks after Wimbledon
'I am just really tired to be honest,' Kenin said in her on-court interview after the match.
'Such a tough player and it was a tough match and I am just so happy to have pulled through.'
Australian Ajla Tomljanovic retired 22 minutes into her opening round clash, trailing Polish ace Iga Swiatek 4-1 in the first set.
In other first-round action, Barty's doubles partner, former world No.1 Victoria Azarenka, beat Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-2 but seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams suffered a 6-4 6-2 loss to Spaniard Carla Suarez-Navarro.
The Australian star crashed out to 29th-ranked American Sofia Kenin (pictured) in the second round on Tuesday at the Rogers Cup in Toronto
