Meet the Australian tennis brain helping an US underdog ruin Ash Barty’s Wimbledon fairytale 

An Australian tennis mastermind will be responsible if Ash Barty crashes out of the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday.

Strategy analyst Craig O’Shannessy makes no apologies for plotting the Australian current world number one’s demise as she prepares to take on US world ranked 55 Alison Riske on Monday night (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

Regarded as one of the best tennis analysts in the business, O’Shannessy has been approached by Riske’s camp to build a game plan that may stage a stunning upset against Barty to end her recent dream run since winning the French Open.

‘I don’t work for Tennis Australia,’ O’Shannessy told AAP. 

‘Tennis is a global game. I have no allegiances.’

O’Shannessy has been the chief strategist for men’s world one and reigning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic for the last two-and-a-half years as he eyes off a 15th grand slam title. 

He’s also ATP’s and Wimbledon’s chief tournament analyst. 

Barty didn’t drop a set during the first week of Wimbledon and is on track to become the biggest earner in Australian tennis history.

She has won $14.8 million in career prize money to date.

A $4.2million boost to her bank balance will take her earnings to $19 million by next week if she claims her second consecutive grand slam.

Riske’s coach Billy Heiser believes his player can cause problems for Barty. 

Current world number one Ash Barty goes into Monday’s Wimbledon fourth round clash against US opponent Alison Riske (pictured) as the red hot favourite

‘I know he’s working with Novak and I just asked if he’d be willing to sit down and go over some things,’ Riske’s coach Billy Heiser said.

‘And he went over some things for one of our other matches and I just asked if he could go over a few things against Ash. I hope it disrupts some things. But Ash is No.1 in the world for a reason.’

The winner of Monday’s match will book a likely quarter final showdown with world number 11 Serena Williams.

The in-form Riske has every right to go into her match with Barty quietly confident of causing a boilover and achieve her best ever result at a grand slam.

Australian strategy analyst Craig O’Shannessy has devised a game plan for Alison Riske to stage a stunning upset against Australian Ash Barty

US tennis player Alison Riske (pictured) has been working with an Australian secret weapon to try and cause a stunning Wimbledon upset

She already has one up over the Australian, having beaten Barty in straight sets in their only encounter three years ago.

Riske has already caused two upsets during week one of Wimbledon against Croatian world number 22 Donna Vekic and Swiss number 13 Belinda Bencic.

Barty still remembers her only showdown against Riske three years ago. 

‘Whenever Alison’s back was against the wall, she produced her best tennis,’ she told reporters.

‘I think that’s no secret. You ask any opponent that plays Alison, she’s up for the fight, makes you work for every single point.

‘It will be really important for me to go out there and try and bring my variety, take my opportunities when I get them.

‘Also I know she loves playing on the grass court. She’s going to make me play a million balls. I have to be at my best.’

Top tennis analyst Craig O’Shannessy (left) is part of Novak Djokovic’s (right) team

 Born in Albury on the NSW/Victoria border and now based in Texas, O’Shannessy has coached on tennis touring circuit for 20 years.

O’Shannessy is no stranger to plotting the downfall of Australia’s best.

He masterminded then world No.262 Melinda Czink’s first-round upset win over 10th seed Samantha Stosur at Wimbledon in 2011. 

Stosur won her maiden grand slam at the US Open two months later.

O’Shannessy laughs off suggestions he’s a traitor to Australia.

‘I love Australian tennis,’ he told AAP.

‘I’m always available to help out.’

Australian superstar Ash Barty is yet to drop a set as she eye off a Wimbledon quarter final