In fantastic news, Ash Barty is through to the quarter-final, after defeating World No. 30 Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open.
[jwplayer bGO1zRES]
With her win, Barty becomes the first Australian woman through to the Australian Open quarter-finals in ten bloody years. TEN. Whatta champ. This is also a career high for the 22-year-old.
The World No. 15 took it in three after losing the first set 4-6. Barty took the second 6-1 and the third 6-4.
But it wasn’t an easy finish because Sharapova broke back, turning the final set into an absolute nail-bitter.
“It was a bit close, wasn’t it?” Barty said in her post-match interview.
“I just knew I had to keep chipping away and in a sense just trust the work that we’ve done. I know that I can match it with the best and when I execute, I know that I can.”
Of course, Barty’s time as a cricket player for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League came up because she is far too talented.
“I think I was pretty wrapped yesterday when the Heat girls made it into the final,” she said. “That was a hell of an afternoon yesterday but this is unreal. Playing on this beautiful court in front of a packed house, there’s nothing better.”
Legend.
You can watch her full post-match interview, below.
Hear from Ash Barty after she booked her spot in the quarter-final of the Australian Open. #BartyParty
WATCH LIVE: @Channel9
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/d5QpFbIguD#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Gh22h0qA70— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 20, 2019
Great attitude, great player, LOVE HER.
Barty’s best previous Grand Slam singles result was the third round at the 2017 Australian Open.
Barty will take on World No. 8 Petra Kvitova in the quarter finals.
