WTA Miami: Barty first semi-finalist after defeating Sabalenka
Defending champion Ashleigh Barty is in the semifinals of the WTA Tour 1000 tournament in Miami. The Australian defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6: 4, 6: 7 (5) and 6: 3.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Mar 30, 2021, 10:28 pm
Barty won the tournament in 2019, last year the corona pandemic prevented it from taking place. The difference in the match lay in the quality as a setback: While Barty was able to take her opponent's serve once in both the first and third rounds, Sabalenka missed too many chances. Barty's opponent, who prevailed 6: 4, 6: 7 (5) and 6: 3, will be determined in the match between Elina Svitolina and Anastasija Sevastova.
The match against Sabalenka, who won the only two tournaments after the French Open in Ostrava and Linz in autumn 2020 and also in Abu Dabhi at the beginning of 2021, demanded all of her defensive skills from Barty. And the external circumstances weren't easy either: At the beginning of the third set, the heat rule came into play, the two players were given a little extra time to breathe.
Sabalenka played with force as usual, but made one or two bad decisions in the crucial phase of the third set. And had to swallow the break to 3: 5. Barty served without any problems.