After a breakthrough 2017, Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty has one very bright future in the sport according to tennis legend John Newcombe.
MORE: Serena Williams to return before Australian Open
Barty put the tennis world on alert this year as she climbed over 200 spots in the world rankings to finish 2017 ranked 17th in the world.
At just 21 years of age and into just her second year back in the sport after a brief hiatus to pursue cricket, the sky appears to be the limit for Barty with Newcombe backing her to reach the same highs of the former world number one in both singles and doubles.
"She went away from the sport and came back with no expectations and it's just developed for her," Newcombe told AAP.
"Watching her play, she's only touching the edges of how good she could be.
"She has the all-court game and as she adds the other things that are necessary, she could become number one."
Though clearly seeing plenty of potential in Barty who incidentally took out the Newcombe Medal this year, the tennis great stressed that such a rise will take time and there are plenty of improvements still needed.
Despite the increasing buzz around Barty, the Queenslander is embracing the pressure as she looks to impress at the Brisbane International in the new year.
"We all know the very famous saying in tennis that pressure's a privilege," Barty said.
"That's something I will carry into the summer and I'm very excited."
Barty started 2017 ranked 271 in the world but ends it in 17th with the 21-year-old also claiming her first singles WTA title in Malaysia.
