Alicia Barnett: Highly ranked doubles player makes a comeback at Wimbledon with ‘no preconceived notions’

Tennis Breakthrough for Alicia Barnett at Wimbledon

Ranked as Britain’s number one women’s doubles player, Alicia Barnett is set to make her second appearance at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament. After debuting as a wildcard entrant last year, the 29-year-old achieved notable success by reaching the quarter-finals in mixed doubles and the second round in women’s doubles.

Barnett, who is currently ranked number 68 in the world, will be competing again this year in both events starting next week. Despite her previous achievements and improved ranking, she approaches this year’s tournament without any expectations.

Alicia Barnett: Embracing the Experience

In an interview, Barnett expressed her excitement about returning to Wimbledon but emphasized that she wants to focus on enjoying every moment without putting pressure on herself. She acknowledged that not many athletes have the opportunity to play at such a prestigious event and aims to savor the experience wholeheartedly.

“While I enter each tournament with a desire to perform my best and win it all, I’ve decided not to burden myself with specific expectations,” said Barnett. “My main goal is continuous improvement. Looking back from my debut last year, I can confidently say that I have grown as a player.”

The Unpredictability of Tennis

Barnett humbly recognizes that tennis can be an unpredictable sport where anything can happen on any given day. She understands that the outcome of a match can sometimes come down to chance and variables beyond one’s control.

“In tennis, you never know what might unfold. You can defeat anyone or be defeated by anyone depending on the circumstances,” Barnett reflected.

A Year of Achievements for Barnett and Nicholls

Since her breakthrough at Wimbledon last year, Alicia Barnett has continued to make waves in the world of tennis alongside her regular women’s doubles partner, Olivia Nicholls. The pair made their debuts together at various Grand Slam tournaments including the US Open, Australian Open, and French Open.

Barnett describes the past year as surreal but deeply rewarding. She cherishes playing in front of friends and family at Wimbledon and looks forward to another unforgettable experience this year.

Growth Under Coach Ian MacDonald

Trained at the University of Bath under coach Ian MacDonald, both Barnett and Nicholls have shown immense growth in all aspects of their game over the past year.

“As a coach, I’ve witnessed tremendous progress from these two players,” said MacDonald. “Not only have they gained valuable experience competing against top-ranked opponents around the world but they’ve also honed their unique style which allows them to stand out among some of the best.”

Paving Their Way Towards Success

Prior to Wimbledon 2021, Alicia Barnett secured her first title alongside Olivia Nicholls at W60 Trnava in Slovakia earlier this year. The duo also reached significant milestones as beaten finalists at Surbiton Trophy while making it into semi-finals during other tournaments across Europe such as Nottingham Open.

“We’ve had some excellent runs recently,” expressed an optimistic Barnett referring to their strong performance leading up to Wimbledon. “Making it far in several competitions gives me hope that we can push even further this time.”

As Alicia Barnett eagerly awaits her second appearance at Wimbledon, she approaches the tournament with a mindset focused on embracing the experience rather than setting specific expectations. Her journey as Britain’s top-ranked women’s doubles player has been marked by growth and success, leading to numerous memorable moments on the court.