Ash Barty sets up clash with Australian Open quarantine villain

·Sports Reporter

9 April 2021 at 12:53 am·2-min read

Aussie Ash Barty (pictured right) fist-pumping to celebrate and Spaniard Paula Badosa (pictured left) challenging a call. — Aussie Ash Barty (pictured right) has set up a clash with Spaniard Paula Badosa (pictured left) at the Charleston Open. (Getty Images)

Aussie Ash Barty has set up a quarter-final clash with Australian Open quarantine villain Paula Badosa at the Charleston Open.

American Shelby Rogers pushed Barty all the way in their Round of 16 clash, in an almost two-hour and 30 minute battle, which ended 7-6 (7-3), 4-6 6-4 to help the Queenslander reach the quarter-finals.

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Rogers, born in nearby South Carolina, was able to come from behind in the second set to level it and pushed Barty to 4-4 in the third.

But the determined Aussie won the last two games to close out the match, at the season's first clay-court event.

"It has been a very quick turnaround," Barty said of changing surfaces. "I'm still allowing myself time to get used to that. But with each match, that will get better and better."

Fresh from her win at the Miami Open, Barty will now face Badosa of Spain on Friday for a spot in the semi-finals.

Badosa defeated American Catherine McNally 6-3, 6-3.

Badosa's controversial Aussie stay

The Spanish star was one of the few players to cause an uproar during her quarantine stay ahead of the Australian Open.

The World No.67 was the first player to test positive for coronavirus upon arriving in Australia ahead of the tournament.

She was part of the 72 players placed in hard lockdown and claimed the accomodation she's been afforded and the facilities at her disposal were sub-standard.

Ash Barty rips a backhand during the Volvo Car Open at LTP Daniel Island Tennis Center. — Ash Barty returns a shot to Shelby Rogers during the Volvo Car Open at LTP Daniel Island Tennis Center on April 08, 2021 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Matthew Stockman via Getty Images)

The 23-year-old said she had suffered from anxiety and claustrophobia, and has been using water bottles as weights to try to stay in shape.

"I feel abandoned because I don't have training equipment which I requested five days ago," she told Spanish newspaper Marca on Monday.

"I haven't been told which type of the virus I have, I've had no information from the tournament."

Badosa then defended her complaints after being bundled out of the Australian Open in the First Round.

The Spaniard claimed she wouldn't compete in another Grand Slam if she had to quarantine for 14 days.

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