Great honor for Ashleigh Barty and Alex de Minaur! The two Australian tennis players received the Newcombe Medal at a ceremony on Sunday evening, which is awarded by the Australian Tennis Federation each year to the best professional.
This year the medal was awarded to two players for the first time. “It was very difficult to make up your mind. That’s why we chose the only logical thing – to have two medal winners,” says former tennis pro John Newcombe, after whom the award is named.
Barty reached her new career high in both singles and doubles last season and finished the year among the top 20 in both rankings. At the US Open, she was also able to triumph in doubles alongside CoCo Vandeweghe. She also ended her singles year with the triumph at the B-World Championships in Zhuhai.
“It was another phenomenal year. I am very grateful to be able to carry out the sport I love professionally and enjoy every moment,” said the 22-year-old. Barty also praised her male counterpart: “Alex had one of the most incredible years I’ve ever seen. “Tennis is in a very good position with the men.”
De Minaur, who had won the Newcomer Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively, was able to celebrate this year’s grand prize: “I definitely didn’t expect that.” The only 19-year-old played his way up by more than 170 places in the past season and currently ranks 31st in the ATP World Ranking. Not surprisingly, he was voted “Newcomer of the Year” in the men’s category.
The teenager reacted humorously to Barty’s suggestion to compete together in doubles in the future: “I really wouldn’t want to disappoint you in mixed doubles.”