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Esteemed women's coach David Taylor believes Ash Barty's supreme serving is the key to the Australian world No.1's US Open title hopes.
It's the most lethal, yet underrated, weapon in women's tennis and holds the key to Ash Barty's hopes of US Open glory.
So says master coach David Taylor, who believes Barty's supreme serving makes her the Open favourite over two-time champion, titleholder and his one-time charge Naomi Osaka.
Relatively short in size but a giant in stature, the 166cm-tall Barty has surpassed Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova to boast the premier delivery in the women's game.
Her numbers in 2021 are amazing.
Barty leads the tour's ace count (297), serving points won (64.2 per cent), service games won (81.3 per cent) and first-serve points won (74.9 per cent).
Perhaps most tellingly, as clutch as they come, Barty also leads the break-points saved category (65.3 per cent).
Barty revealed last year how her childhood coach Jim Joyce drilled into her from an early age the importance of mastering the serve.
"It's something that we work on every day knowing it's a shot for me that can put me in control of the point," she told AAP.
"It's changed and developed over time but as I've grown and become a lot stronger, it's become more of a weapon.
"And, at times, it's not as much of a weapon because there are girls out there who are bigger and stronger who can do just as much, if not more, with their serve.
"But, for me, it's a starting point to try and put me in front in the point."
Taylor, who has coached Osaka, Martina Hingis, Samantha Stosur and Alicia Molik, says Barty's serve is the envy of her rivals, so sneaky good he compared it to Roger Federer's.
"As coaches, all we talk about Ash's serve," he told AAP.
"When Ash serves, the way she can use the box is phenomenal and it's funny how people don't talk about it.
"Nobody talks about Roger's serve but how good's Roger's serve. We talk about it all the time.
"It's absolutely one of her massive strengths and she definitely deserves more credit for that."
Taylor believes Barty's strike rate of saving break points, tactical nous - which he declared unrivalled - and ice-cool temperament are what separates the world No.1 from the rest.
"It's the sign of a great player," he said of the Wimbledon champion's ability to land a free point when under pressure.
"If Ash is serving well, I would consider her the US Open favourite over Naomi for sure.
"But also because of her consistency throughout the year in big matches.
"That's got a lot to do with winning grand slams and it's pretty clear who is the player of the year thus far."
Barty, who opens her campaign against 2010 finalist Vera Zvonareva on Wednesday AEST, enters the season's last slam fresh off her tour-topping fifth title of the season in Cincinnati.
"Unfortunately for Ash at the French, who knows what would have happened there for her as well if she didn't get injured," Taylor said.
"For a girl who loves being in her home environment, a girl who doesn't play that many weeks because she loves the home life so much, to go away and spend the whole year away from home and still produce week in, week out is amazing.
"What she's doing out of her comfort zone, being so long away from home, it's phenomenal."
With four hardcourt majors, including two US Opens, Osaka shapes as Barty's chief title threat if she can overcome the mental demons that forced her withdrawal from Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
"Naomi is a pure ball-striker," Barty said.
"When she has time to set up particularly after her first serve, she's one of the best first-serve, first-strike players I've ever come up against.
"On a hardcourt, there's not a lot of variation on the bounce. She can set up, trust the bounce and really swing through the line.
"That's what makes her so damaging on these courts."
