"It hasn't been easy" - Barty's coach reveals the Australian has been very homesick this season

Despite having a spectacular summer that included victories at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, Ashleigh Barty has been feeling distraught over being away from home for so long, according to her coach Craig Tyzzer.

The Aussie left home after the Australian Open, and has been on the road ever since, a plan she and her coach agreed upon before leaving her native Queensland. Although Barty has won five WTA titles this season, Tyzzer revealed the World No.1 has been missing home.

"It hasn't been easy," Tyzzer said in an interview with Reuters. "It's certainly been really tough to be away for that long and continue to keep playing and be fresh. We've been trying to do our best to get all those things right. Sometimes we have, sometimes we haven't.

"But she's been really consistent just in her ability to play and front up for all the matches. She should be really proud of what she's done so far this year."

Having not participated at the US Open last year due to the pandemic, Barty will head to New York as a heavy favorite. Defending champion Naomi Osaka will have 2,000 points to defend, while Barty will have the opportunity to gain more points and keep her spot atop the women's rankings.

"Obviously she'd like to hang onto the number one spot and keep pushing to hold onto it as long as she can," added Tyzzer. "We've got a Grand Slam around the corner so there's another goal for her."