Ashleigh Barty, who played cricket in one of the earlier seasons of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), on Sunday outplayed former World No.1 Maria Sharapova in the Round of 16 in the ongoing season of the Australian Open 2019, despite losing the first set. Barty defeated Sharapova by 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 coming back from behind said it was her break from the game when she played in the WBBL that she emerged as a better tennis player.

Barty had played for Brisbane Heat in the 2015-16 season besides playing a game in the Women’s National Cricket League in November 2015 for Queensland Women. Her best performance with the bat in the WBBL was his knock of 39 runs off 27 balls against Melbourne Stars which though the Heat had lost. It was her first game in the tournament and she played a total of nine matches.

What a day. pic.twitter.com/nHjgf27qNn

— Ash Barty (@ashbarty) January 20, 2019

As quoted in the ICC news, Barty said, “I needed to take that time away. For me, having that 18 months off was vital. I feel like I came back a better person on and off the court, a better tennis player.”

Born in Ipswich, Queensland, Barty was back to tennis after the break and the stint with a team sport was refreshing for the player who specializes in an individual game.

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After signing for Heat, she said, “There’s never a lonesome moment on the [cricket] field if you’re struggling. There are 10 other girls that can help you out and get you through the tough times.” 

That Barty has indeed gained from cricket became evident when she won the US Open doubles title with CoCo Vandeweghe in 2018 and also became the first Australian woman since Jelena Dokic to make the last eight in the Australian Open. She is currently ranked 15th in singles. She will now lock horns with Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitová in the quarter-final match at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.