Australian Open: Ashleigh Barty has to stretch tremendously
World number one Ashleigh Barty is in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open - but she had to work hard against Alison Riske.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 26, 2020, 11:10 am
A double error decided the match in favor of the local heroine - 6: 3, 1: 6 and 6: 4 in the end it was for Barty, who is for the second time after 2019 in the quarterfinals of her home slam.
Barty started the match in full control and quickly led 3-0. Riske managed the rebreak, but Barty took the serve in return and made the set win clear. In set two the opposite picture: Here the American was quickly 3: 0 in front, a second break to 5: 1 was the preliminary decision to equalize the set. Crucial here: Barty's 12 mistakes without need, with only 3 winners; Riske played much more stable at this point.
In set three, Barty finally took the quick 4: 1 lead, making 12 out of 14 points in three games. But Riske came up again - also because Barty's forehand left again - and equalized to 4: 4 before the serve failed in the end.
Barty against Kvitova again
For Barty, it was the first win in the third match against Riske, who most recently buried Barty's title dreams in the round of 16 at the 2019 Wimbledon tournament. "Apparently, all good things come in threes," said Barty afterwards. "It was an incredibly tough match." Also because the wind in the Rod Laver Arena always presented both players with a difficult task.
Barty now faces Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals - as in the previous eight also in the round of eight. At that time, the Czech won clearly 6: 1 and 6: 4 and finally even reached the final (in which she was below Naomi Osaka). Overall, Kvitova is 4: 3 up front, but most recently Barty won the WTA Finals in Shenzhen.
The quarterfinals also feature Sofia Kenin and Ons Jabeur .
Angelique Kerber intervenes again tomorrow, then she plays her round of 16 against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
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