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AAP
AAP
Sport
Darren Walton

Ash Barty primed to open her 2022 campaign

World No.1 Ash Barty will launch her Adelaide International title defence against Coco Gauff. (AAP)

Not content with her golden 2021, Ash Barty hopes to unveil the "complete package" when she kicks off the new year at the Adelaide International on Wednesday night.

All eyes will be on the world No.1 and Australian Open title favourite when the big home hope launches her title defence against American teenage prodigy Coco Gauff.

It's hard to imagine an even superior version of the dominant force that accrued five more trophies, including the prized Wimbledon crown, last season.

But that's the chilling reality Barty plans to serve up to her rivals in the South Australian capital.

"It's a complete development of everything. Time and time again I want to try and be a complete player," Barty said ahead of her summer start.

"I want to try and make sure there are no holes in my game. We just continue to do the work.

"It's continuing to try to work on my game and better every facet of my game, whether it's how I hit a specific forehand, when I use a shot. It's all about using that in matches correctly.

"A lot of that is match awareness as much as being able to strike a tennis ball."

She may boast a laid-back exterior, but the dual grand slam champion possesses a ferocious appetite for hard work.

"That is a challenge that I love," Barty said after entering her 110th week atop the women's rankings.

"I love to try to get better each and every day. I feel as though if you can continue to improve each and every day, that's a good thing. That's kind of what you're after."

Barty hasn't played since suffering a third-round US Open defeat in September and calling an end to her 2021 campaign citing mental and physical exhaustion.

But the 25-year-old is raring to go.

"It's the start of the Aussie summer. It's nice to be back in tournament mode, see some girls around, see some faces around," Barty said.

"For a few of the girls, I haven't seen in along time. It's nice to be back. Yeah, we're getting ready to go.

"I'm excited now to try and bring it all together as best that I can and understand in the next couple weeks I'll have to be patient with myself.

"It has been a while since I've played a competitive match but I feel good. I feel ready."

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