Concerning detail in Ash Barty photo as winning streak continues
Ash Barty has sparked some injury concerns ahead of the French Open after appearing with strapping on her shoulder at the Madrid Open.
The World No.1, fresh from her double triumph in Stuttgart last weekend, breezed into the second round in Madrid on Thursday with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Shelby Rogers.
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However there were some concerns from fans and commentators when Barty played the match with her shoulder strapped.
The Aussie star hadn't worn the strapping in Stuttgart, leaving some fans worried about her health with the French Open just around the corner.
Addressing the strapping after the match, Barty insisted there's nothing to worry about.
"I'm an old body now, mate," she said after turning 25 last Sunday.
"Old and got to look after myself.
"No, just a little bit of support. A bit of WD-40 and we're fine, we're all good!"
The quick win was just what the physio ordered after a demanding campaign in Stuttgart where she had to come from a set down in her final three singles matches and also spent energy winning the doubles title too.
Ash Barty continues mastery of Shelby Rogers
Barty has now beaten Rogers four times this year, continuing her dominance over the American.
"The rate that we're going, we'll play every month this year. Just make it a tradition!" laughed Barty, who'd had trouble in a couple of those previous matches.
Not this time, though, as she took just one hour to leave the American quite beaten and bamboozled.
The win was Barty's 12th in a row on Europe's red clay, dating back to her march to the title at the 2019 French Open.
Barty admitted she enjoyed the sound of a few spectators in an arena again, not to mention how she handled the threat of the world No.43.
"It was really nice to have a few voices in the crowd," she said.
"I think they were certainly enjoying themselves."
They certainly enjoyed Barty's crisp game as she served superbly and pulled her opponent every which way to prevail with eight aces, 19 delightfully executed winners and only nine unforced errors.
Next up for Barty, after celebrating her 13th win in her last 14 matches, is a last-32 meeting with Tamara Zidansek, the world No.80 who defeated Taipei's Hseih Su-Wei 6-2 6-4.
Other good news for top seed Barty, who's after title number four this year, was the elimination of Elina Svitolina, who had run her so close in Stuttgart.
The Ukrainian fourth seed lost 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) to Swiss Jil Teichmann.
Another favourite, Spain's Garbine Muguruza had to withdraw from the tournament with a thigh injury but Poland's French Open champion Iga Swiatek, who could meet Barty in the last-16, looked ominous in beating American Alison Riske 6-1 6-1.
with AAP
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