Ash Barty's embarrassing gaffe in awkward post-match moment

Ash Barty has barely put a foot wrong so far at the Australian Open.

The World No.1 saw off American prodigy Amanda Anisimova in their fourth round clash on Sunday night, passing her sternest test yet and only dropping serve for the first time all tournament.

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But despite her incredible form on the court, the Australian superstar came unstuck in a hilarious moment in her post-match interview.

Barty will now face Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park after beating her at the French Open in 2019 en route to her first grand slam title.

Not that Barty remembers.

When asked about Pegula in her on-court interview with Jim Courier, Barty said: “Jess was on fire today, able to really control the baseline.

“She was able to put Maria (Sakkari) under the pump, take balls on the line, stay in the centre of the court and control it.

“I think she did a really good job of fighting out some tough games, so it will be another awesome match-up.

“I’m not sure if I’ve played her before, but we’ve definitely practised together before. No secrets, come out here, compete and enjoy it.”

However Courier politely responded: “You beat her in Roland-Garros as well (as Amanda Anisimova) en route to that title.”

Barty put her face in her hands in embarrassment and broke out a bashful smile as the awkward gaffe drew laughter from the crowd.

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Barty is the first Australian to reach at least the last eight of the Open for four consecutive years since Wendy Turnbull in 1984.

But having come this far before - and beyond - and failed to walk away with the trophy she most covets, Barty modestly played down Rod Laver's gushing praise for his in-form compatriot.

Enjoying a front-row view of Barty in the arena named in his honour, Laver declared the top seed "unbeatable" while playing as imperiously as she has this summer.

"He was unbeatable. I'm certainly not," Barty said.

"I'm just out here doing what I can, enjoying it.Try and make my opponent's life as uncomfortable as possible. That's my job, ultimately.

"Obviously (Laver) is an exceptional human being. He's an amazing champion of our sport. He's iconic. It's just amazing to be in his presence."

Even after dropping the opening set, big-hitting 20-year-old Anisimova continued to take the fight to title favourite Barty.

She broke the top seed in the second game of the second set, snapping Barty's incredible streak of 63 consecutive service games held.

But Barty kept her cool, breaking straight back, then twice more to clinch a ninth successive win of her still-undefeated 2022 season.

"It was nice to be able to hold firm tonight and bring the points back into my patterns more regularly and the big ones when it mattered most," Barty said.

Hoping to break the host country's 44-year Open singles title drought, Barty will play Pegula on Tuesday for a place in the last four.

with AAP

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