Kerber backs Ashleigh Barty to handle world No.1 pressures

Former world number one Angelique Kerber kws pressure of starting a new season as player everyone wants to beat, but she is confident Ashleigh Barty can meet challenge. Australian h a breakout year in 2019, winning French Open along with prestigious WTA Finals, where she cemented her place atop year-end rankings. Both Kerber and Barty, along with former world number one Naomi Osaka, begin ir 2020 campaigns at Brisbane International from Monday.

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Kerber backs Barty to handle world .1 pressures

"She's always a tough opponent. She's such a great player, a great person as well and I'm really happy for her that she reached number one spot," German told reporters of Barty.

"She put a lot of effort in and she worked hard. It's always a tougher year to start as number one player but I think she will deal with that situation."

Kerber well kws perils of battling to back up a breakthrough season. After winning Grand Slams in 2016 and 2018, she struggled to emulate her results in following years. "I was really trying to enjoy, but you really have to schedule your day a bit different than if you were number 20 or number 30 in world," she said. "You have to improve every single tournament, every year, because even if you win a Grand Slam, everyone is looking to beat you."

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But she is confident level-heed Barty has what it takes to handle expectations of her home fans and extra off-court worklo that comes with being best player on planet. "It's for sure completely different -- she has all pressure, all expectation, especially here in Australia," said Kerber. "I kw her and also her team, she played so well and I'm really sure she'll continue to play how she played particularly end of last year."

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Since finishing 2016 as world number one after winning Australian and US Opens, Kerber slipped to 21 following year n climbed back to number two when she won Wimbledon in 2018. w ranked 20, she has a new coach -- Didi Kindlmann -- and is keen for a fresh start. "I was really looking forward to 2019 being over and we are 2020 w so I'm really looking forward to starting again," she said. 

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