Barty 'excited and humbled' to open Tuesday's Centre Court playpublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 29 June 2021
Ashleigh Barty v Carla Suarez Navarro (13:30 BST)
Ashleigh Barty feels privileged to step into Simona Halep’s shoes and open Centre Court proceedings at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
That role is traditionally reserved for the defending women’s champion but Halep was forced to withdraw with an ongoing calf problem on Friday, meaning the honour was passed to world number one Barty, who takes on Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.
Barty said: “It’s incredibly special. It’s an opportunity very few people get to experience. Of course, I wish Sim was here to be able to experience that. She’s earned the right to open Centre Court on Tuesday as the defending women’s champion.
“I’m extremely excited and humbled to have the privilege and to have the honour."