Ash Barty overcame a stern test to progress to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for only the second time in her career.
The top seed produced glimmers of both her best and worst form throughout her 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, win over America’s Alison Riske. The player who knocked out of the Wimbledon Championships last year. Barty looked at times tentative on the court, but found another gear in her play when required. Improving her head-to-head record against Riske to 2-1.
“I just had to hang in there. It was very tough from the different ends (of the court) playing very differently.” Barty said during her on-court interview.
“I just had to hang in there and try to give myself a chance.”
Throughout her latest clash against the world No.19, Barty’s quest for consistency vanished at times. Best illustrated by the match statistics, which saw her hit 20 winners to 34 unforced errors. Another issue for Barty was her second serve, where she won just seven out of 24 points. Reflecting on her performance, the 23-year-old admitted that she struggled with the windy conditions in Melbourne.
“It’s (the wind) exceptionally hard on you when the ball is from one end of the court. On the other you can’t really feel it.” She explained.
“When it’s behind you, you have to think really smart and try to use it.”
At the start of the match Barty went off guns blazing with the help of a combination of both powerful shot-making and slice. During the opening set, the crowd favourite broke twice en route to taking a 6-3 lead in just 35 minutes. However, Riske refused to go down without a fight. Capitalising on some costly mistakes from the French Open champion, she raced through the second set with ease to draw level. Silencing the animated crowd on the Rod Laver Arena.
With a place in the last eight of a grand slam at stake, the cat and mouse chase continued into the decider. Once again Barty looked to be in control of proceedings as she raced to a 4-1 lead with the help of two love service games. Still, it was not enough to down her opponents spirits. Once again Riske fought back with the help of a three-game streak to draw level.
Despite the scares, Barty still managed to find a way to score victory. With Riske serving to stay in the match, the 29-year-old produced a duo of fatal errors. At 30-30 a backhand error elevated the top seed to her first match point. Then a double fault brought an anticlimactic ending to the encounter to send Barty through.
In the last eight it will be a case of deja vu for the world No.1. She will take on Petra Kvitova, who knocked her out of the tournament at the same stage last year. However, since then Barty has beaten the Czech three times on the tour.
“I love Petra but lets hope she doesn’t break my heart on Tuesday.” She said.
“It’s been an incredible year for me the last 12 months. I’m just excited that I get another opportunity in the quarter-final of a grand slam. You don’t get those every week.”
The mutual respect between the two players was also echoed by Kvitova, who defeated Maria Sakkari on Sunday. She was runner-up in Melbourne last year to Naomi Osaka.
“Ash we have obviously played many times. We played here last year in the quarters. I like her. She’s a great person.” Said Kvitova.
“Whatever will happen will happen. One of us will go through. It will be a tough match, for sure. I try my best, and we’ll see how that goes.”
Barty is bidding to become the first home player to win a singles title at the Australian Open since 1978.
