Australian Open Results: Ashleigh Barty Strengthens Himself As Competitor

MDP Live - World number 1 Ashleigh Barty has booked a place in the Australian Open quarter-finals for the fourth time in a row.

The host tennis player needed 74 minutes to overthrow American Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3.

The top seed's previous encounter with Anisimova was in the semifinals of the 2019 French Open which she won in three sets. At that time, she went down the first set after leading 5-0, but came back from 0-3 to win the second set and eventually won the match before winning the first Grand Slam title of her career.

However, there was no repeat of that when they met again in the fourth round of the 2022 Australian Open, although world number 60 Anisimova managed to break the world number 1's winning streak in retaining 63 service games at the start of the second set.

"It doesn't bother me too much. To be honest, I didn't count how many games I kept in a row or not. The fact that I was able to rise up, instantly retaliating against it by breaking it was the really important thing. Just resetting myself, getting back on track, and continuing to do the right things," Barty said.

"In that game, Amanda saw some second serves she was able to anticipate and she also had some impressive first serve returns."

Barty's quest to become the host women's tennis player who won the Australian Open since Chris O'Neil's 1978 season is still alive. In the second week she played in Melbourne, she lost in the quarter-finals of the 2019 season to Petra Kvitova, lost in the semifinals of the 2020 season to Sofia Kenin, and lost in the quarter-finals of the 2021 season to Karolina Muchova.

Standing between Barty and a place in the Australian Open semifinals is Anisimova's compatriot and 21st seed, Jessica Pegula.

“Pegula was able to defend in the baseline area very well. It will be a challenge for me to try and push him behind the baseline and make him uncomfortable,” commented Barty, who has not dropped a set until the fourth round of the Australian Open this season.

"But I knew he would do the same there and try to make me uncomfortable. That is the game of chess we will play. You go on the pitch and have fun, see who can execute the game better."

Ashleigh Barty Wins Second Title In Adelaide After Slaughter Elena Rybakina

MDP Live - For the third time in her career, world number 1 Ashleigh Barty became champion at home when she won the 2022 Adelaide International title.

The first seed had little to do with thrashing seventh seed Elena Rybakina in the Adelaide International final 6-3, 6-2, her second title in Adelaide in three seasons.

The two players were evenly matched in the first six games, but the flow of the match quickly changed direction after the home player kept her serve at 3-3. After coming back from 15/40, the first seed snatched seven games in a row and won his 14th career WTA singles tournament title in 64 minutes.

"We've definitely had an amazing week, could have played better every game," said Barty.

"I'm getting better and better. I feel today (9/1) there were some key moments at the start of the first set for me to gain momentum. I was really happy to be able to get some break opportunities early in the second set and move forward after that.”

With the win over Kazakhstan's Rybakina, now the world number 1 has won 17 of the last 18 matches against the top 20 and is 2-0 down against Rybakina. He has also won 21 of his last 24 matches in Australia.

Against Rybakina, the host player only lost 13 points in nine service games and produced 17 winners by making 13 unforced errors.

"I feel like maybe throughout the week my serve is my go-to weapon," added Barty. "I felt I was struggling a bit with my rhythm at the start of the week and I can move forward getting better and better. Playing some games without getting broken is a really good thing.”

“I feel as primed for the Australian Open as I have been every season. Each preparation is unique and different. So we're doing it from what's come and going, going forward, trying and doing the best we can at every opportunity, whether here in Adelaide or in Melbourne."

"It doesn't matter at all the way I prepare or the way I think just because it's a Grand Slam. It doesn't change us. We look forward to it, we do what we can do, then we'll see where we go."