'On a roll': Tennis fans laud Ash Barty over 'statement' display
Ash Barty may be at her first tournament since March last year, but the Aussie is starting to build serious momentum ahead of the Australian Open after her victory over Czech Marie Bouzkova.
On Tuesday, Australia’s World No.1 sailed into the last 16 of the WTA Yarra Valley Classic beating Romania’s Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-3.
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And on Wednesday, she went up a gear in the first set to demolish Bouzkova 6-0 in a dominant all-round display.
Using her backhand slice to perfection, Bouzkova had no answers to Barty’s initial onslaught.
But in a twist, Bouzkova fought back and claimed the second 6-4 on the back of 13 unforced errors from Barty.
After dominant 1st set, @ashbarty's dominance has slipped in the 2nd set against Marie Bouzkova. 13 unforced errors in the 2nd set alone.
Third set now at 6-0 4-6...#MelbourneSummerSeries— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) February 3, 2021
However, Barty showed her steel and took it up a gear before she ran out 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in the third to march on to the quarter-final.
Fans on social media were quick to praise the World No.1 after she showed flashes of brilliance in first set to send a warning to the rest of the WTA ahead of next week’s Australian Open.
On a roll. See you in the quarterfinal, @ashbarty 👋#GoAussies pic.twitter.com/iWpQHfqy8v
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) February 3, 2021
Ash Barty has come to PLAY today! 😲🔥
She's taken the first set in almost NO time at all, 6⃣-0⃣ 🎾.
WATCH: 9Go!
STREAM: https://t.co/OJe37KO1AB #9WWOS #MelbourneSummerSeries pic.twitter.com/fmZ19l7rlk— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 3, 2021
Congrats @ashbarty on a quality win #MelbourneSummerSeries
— Click 🙂 (@ClickCollins) February 3, 2021
I think people have forgotten how well Ash Barty can play tennis and have come into this year completely underestimating her, dismissing her as some kind of fluke downhill skier. And I am greatly looking forward to her making them look a bit silly.
— Frith (@pluckyloser) February 3, 2021
@ashbarty is on 🔥 #YarraValleyWTA #AustralianOpen2021
— 30to13 (@thirtyto13) February 3, 2021
Feels safe to call Ash Barty the favorite next week. Really impressive stuff after a year away from competition
— Josh Gross (@josh3302) February 3, 2021
"That's a statement from Ash Barty" 👊
It took 4⃣ deuces, but Barty holds serve to go 1⃣-0⃣ up in the final set 👏!
WATCH: 9Go!
STREAM: https://t.co/VPvWjqOKIA#9WWOS #MelbourneSummerSeries pic.twitter.com/iFSgxluMNR— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) February 3, 2021
Barty praises return of tennis
After her second-round victory, Barty admitted it was hard sitting out the remainder of 2020 and watching the Grand Slams from afar.
But Barty said she was pleased to be back on court back at home after a long break.
“I wrestled with the decision for quite a while,” she said.
“But, for me, I had to prioritise. Not only for me first and foremost but also my team and my family, and I think it just shows how tough it can be.
“I feel for all you guys down here, what you've gone through in the last six, seven months down here in Victoria.
“So I'm extremely grateful to be here and I'm exceptionally proud to be an Aussie and just be on this beautiful court again.”
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