Australian Open: Ash Barty waltzes into maiden fourth round in Melbourne

James Pavey

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Australian Open: Ash Barty waltzes into maiden fourth round in Melbourne image

Ash Barty has won through to the fourth round at the Australian Open for the first time after she sliced past Maria Sakkari.

Barty and Sakkari were engaged in a power struggle in the first set, with the Australian earning a break before sealing it 7-5.

With the roof closed after Melbourne was lashed by rain, both players had battled the alien conditions, Barty needing a medical timeout after the draining first set.

From there, it was one-way traffic as Barty hit 11 winners to Sakkari's three in the second set to blow Greece's world No.41 off Rod Laver Arena in 82 minutes, 7-5 6-1.

Barty smashed 13 aces to Sakkari's two, 24 total winners to nine, and won 77 per cent of points off her first serve.


 

For Sakkari, it was only a matter of time after expelling all she had in the first set, with the second set a Barty procession as the local fans welcomed the first Australian singles player into the final 16.

For Barty, it was normal transmission resumed - she has now spent just 204 minutes on court so far across her three matches.

However, the tempo will lift tenfold in the fourth round, where she will play either reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki or 2008 winner Maria Sharapova.

After the match, Barty remained cool in the face of intense home-induced pressure.

"This is amazing. It's an amazing sound in here when the roof is closed," she said in her on-court post-match interview.

"To hear all the Aussies out here, it's unbelievable.

"The lively conditions suited both of us, so it took some time to get used to how dead and slow it is in here with the roof closed.

"Maria's a great friend of mine, and we've had some exceptional matches in the past. I'm extremely happy to get through in straight sets."


 

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo