Ash Barty's classy response to Australian Open timeout controversy
Ash Barty has offered a classy response to her shock exit from the Australian Open in the quarterfinals, at the hands of Czech Karolina Muchova on Wednesday.
The 27th-ranked Muchova pulled off a stunning comeback following a controversial medical timeout in the second set, storming back from 2-1 down in the second set to win 1-6 6-3 6-2.
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Muchova admitted after the match that she hadn't suffered an injury as such, rather that she was feeling dizzy after the first set and needed to take a break.
"I was a bit lost on the court and my head was spinning so I took a break and it helped me," she said.
"I started feeling a bit lost by the end of the first set. Ash started very good. She played like no mistakes. It was very tough."
Muchova's post-match admission generated some degree of controversy, however Barty was quick to brush off any suggestion the break in play had lead to her shock collapse.
Instead, Barty said it was up to her to ensure such breaks in play didn't knock her out of her rhythm in future.
"It's within the rules. She's within her rights to take that time," Barty said.
"If she wasn't within the rules, the physios and the doctors would have said so.
"That's the laws of our game, that we have those medical time-outs for cases that are needed. Obviously she needed that today."
Barty said she had enough experience at this point not to let such an eventuality affect her in future matches.
"I've played a lot of matches where there have been medical time-outs. I've taken medical time-outs myself before, so that shouldn't be a massive turning point in the match," she said.
"I was disappointed that I let that become a turning point. I'm experienced enough now to be able to deal with that."
Ash Barty shattered after 'heartbreaking' Australian Open loss
With Barty the only grand slam champion left in her half of the draw, the 24-year-old had been a hot favourite to at least become the first home hope to make the women's Open final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.
Instead she must stew over another huge opportunity lost.
"Yeah, it's heartbreaking, of course," the top seed said.
"But will it deter me? Will it ruin the fact we've had a really successful start to our season? Absolutely not.
"The sun will come up tomorrow. We go about our work again.
"You're either winning or you're learning. Today is a massive learning curve for me, for Tyz (coach Craig Tyzzer), my team as well.
"We take the positives out of it, without doubt, and don't let this particular match, this particular hour of tennis deter us from what we're trying to do."
With AAP
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