Ashleigh Barty honours Simona Halep as she asks Wimbledon to let her play opening match

| by Zlatko Vodenicharov

It is a tradition that the most recent champion opens the Wimbledon on the Centre Court and this year, there will be no defending champion in the WTA draw as Ashleigh Barty retired from tennis.

However, last year, there was also no defending champion as in 2020, the Wimbledon was not held due to a pandemic. Yet, 2019 champion, Simona Halep, didn't open the Centre Court as former world number 1, Ashleigh Barty got the honour.

After her win over Carla Suarez Navarro, the Aussie told BBC:

WATCH: Barty slides into ice bath dressed as character from The Lion King for charity
WATCH: Barty slides into ice bath dressed as character from The Lion King for charity

“With all my heart I wish Simo was here to do it [start on Centre Court] herself. She’s a champion. She’s earned the right to open this court. To be given the honour when I haven’t fully deserved it, I wanted to come out here and pay respect to that."

Ashleigh Barty

This year, the question of who should start on the Centre Court appeared again and Barty's coach, Craig Tyzzer hinted, that the 2021 champion requested the All England Club to give the honour to Simona Halep.

When discussing who should have the honour, former Halep's coach Darren Cahill tweeted:

"This should be Simona Halep. Covid wiped out the 2020 championships & unable to play last year due to injury so Ash Barty was given the honor. With Ash retired, the privilege and honor should go back to Simo. She has earned it as 2019 champ."

Darren Cahill

To what Tyzer responded stating:

"Totally agree Killer and I think someone may have already requested it."

Craig Tyzzer
WATCH: Simona Halep plays wheelchair tennis with French legend Michaël Jérémiasz
WATCH: Simona Halep plays wheelchair tennis with French legend Michaël Jérémiasz

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