Barty turns to coaching, regional play during break from tour

   

 Ashleigh Barty reached three Grand Slam doubles finals and achieved a doubles career high of No. 39

Ashleigh Barty will play in the Asia-Pacific Tennis League this week, but still has not reached a decision about returning to the WTA Tour.

The 18-year-old Australian will play for a local team in the Queensland conference, appearing in both singles and doubles.

Barty, a Grand Slam doubles finalist who was one of Australia's top women's prospects, announced she was taking an indefinite break from the tour following a qualifying defeat at the U.S. Open. She has been coaching juniors at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre, even though she is not much older than them.

Accompanying a junior, she played doubles in a local competition a month ago. “Seeing my sisters and mum and dad every day has been awesome,” she said. “I think everyone needs to take a few breaks. Whenever I am ready to get back into training and get back playing again, I’ll stop [coaching] then.’’

Other ranked players like Alja Tomljanovic and James Duckworth are also playing in the Asia-Pacific league tournament.