Ash Barty has opened about her struggles with mental health as she heads into Wimbledon 2019 as the women’s top seed.

In a interview the 23-year-old recalled the immense pressure she was under five years ago after winning the Wimbledon junior crown at just 15.

“I’m not going to go into details of how I felt and what I had to go through, but there was a point when I think I knew I had to stop and, when I made the decision, it was easy,” Ash said.

“Everyone is different, everyone is unique. I can’t sit here and tell people how they should figure out their way through their life. It’s their decision. For me, it was just being aware of my mental health. Having a discussion with people was the best thing that came out of it.”

Ash ended up taking a hiatus from tennis and turning to cricket, playing for the Brisbane Heat for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League Twenty20 season before returning to the racquet. 

However, the French Open champion says her current position heading into the famous grass tournament is no comparison to her previous experience. 

“It’s a completely new situation,” she said. 

But she admits she’s unsure of how she will handle the expectations upon her. 

“I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see,” Barty said. “I feel like I’m playing good tennis but it’s such an open field, if I’m being brutally honest. For me, there are so many potential new situations at Wimbledon. It’s essential I go out to prepare the best I can.”

Watch below to see how Ash is preparing for Wimbledon.

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