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World No.1 Ash Barty says she won’t defend her WTA crown in Mexico and will officially end her season for 2021.
Barty claimed five titles this year, including her second Wimbledon championship, and hasn’t played since the US Open in September.
The Australian declared her willingness to prepare for next year’s Australian Open and will hold the top spot in the women’s rankings for a third straight year despite skipping the end of year tournament.
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Barty won the WTA Finals in Shenzhen in 2019, taking home the biggest payday in tennis history with a $6.4 million cheque.
Last year’s edition was cancelled because of the virus and this year’s version of the tournament has been relocated to Mexico for mid-November.
However, Barty isn’t keen on going through a second two-week stint in quarantine in about two months, having returned home from her US campaign in September.
“I wanted to let everyone know that I won’t be competing in any further tournaments in 2021, including the WTA Finals in Mexico,” Barty said in a statement on Saturday.
“It was a difficult decision but I need to prioritise my body and my recovery from our 2021 season and focus on having the strongest pre-season for the Australian summer.
“With ongoing challenges of travelling back to Queensland and quarantine requirements, I am not willing to compromise my preparation for January.
“I wish the WTA team and the players all the best for a successful WTA Finals and the rest of the year.”
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