'Shouldn't be allowed': Uproar over confusing sight in Ash Barty match
Fans were left confused when World No.1 Ash Barty and 14th seed American Sofia Kenin took to the court for the Australian Open semi-final in the same outfit.
‘DON’T LIKE GOOD TENNIS’: Nadal blows up in ugly Australian Open exit
FILA sponsor both Barty and Kenin, but fans were struggling to distinguish the pair on court as they battled it out for a spot in the final.
Some fans even asked why FILA wouldn’t mix up one of their outfits for such a huge showdown.
Old story but still worth complaining about. Players should not be allowed to wear the same outfit for a big match like this. Makes it hard for the occasional tennis viewer to know who is who. Grand Slam semis should showcase stars and would-be stars not confuse the public pic.twitter.com/23GC5RFUNj
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) January 30, 2020
whats up with the matching outfits??? @AustralianOpen #AusOpen #ashbarty
— Igor Aharonovich (@igordownunder) January 30, 2020
why is Ash Barty and Sofia Kenin wearing the same outfit?
— Mac LeFevre ©2020 (@MacLeFevre) January 30, 2020
Glad Ash has a white hat on because the same outfit was messing with me! Let's go Ash! #Barty #AusOpen
— Kara Johnson (@__KaraJohnson) January 30, 2020
@AustralianOpen can I move that, in future tournaments, players be prohibited from wearing the exact same outfit on court? I'm having trouble differentiating between @ashbarty and @SofiaKenin on TV! 😨 #AusOpen #myeyesightisntwhatitusedtobe
— Amrit Parmar (@Ammers05) January 30, 2020
So Ash Barty and Kenin are wearing the same outfit in the #AustralianOpen semi-final?!? 😱 Fila must be happy. It’s a good look and both look great, but #ashworeitbetter #BartyParty 🇦🇺 🎾 🏆
— kbigglesy (@socialarchismx) January 30, 2020
Despite Barty and Kenin wearing the same outfit, both players had contrasting styles on the court.
Barty falls short at Aus Open
While Kenin gets the chance to claim her maiden grand slam crown, Barty will rue being unable to convert either of two set points from 6-4 up in the first-set tiebreaker or another two serving at 5-4 in the second set.
A hot favourite to become the first Australian woman since Wendy Turnbull 40 years ago to make an Open final, the world No.1's defeat left the packed crowd on Rod Laver Arena shellshocked.
Even Kenin, who lost to Barty in the French Open fourth round last year, was pinching herself in the aftermath.
"Honestly, I'm so speechless. I honestly can't believe this. I've dreamed about this moment since I was five years old," said the Moscow-born 14th seed.
"I'm so speechless, thankful. I have worked so hard to be here. Thanks to my dad and everyone back home."
Barty dominated much of the opening set, conceding only four points in her first five service games.
But she paid the price for not cashing in on three break-point chances in the sixth game, as Kenin snatched the set in the breaker.
A winner of a tour-best 13 matches from a set down last year, Barty looked to be mounting a signature comeback when she charged to a 3-1 lead in the second set.
But, in temperatures nudging towards 40 degrees in Melbourne, the top seed crumbled trying to level the match up as Kenin reeled off four straight games from 3-5 down to seal victory after one hour and 45 minutes.
"I knew I needed to find a way to win. Thank you so much," Kenin told the crowd.
"This wasn't an easy one. I'm so grateful and thank you for this moment."
With AAP
