Ash Barty lays down a marker, enters maiden quarterfinals at Wimbledon
The 25-year-old Australian beats French Open champion Krejcikova in straight sets to join an array of first-time Wimbledon quarterfinalists; Kerber, Jabeur impress
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time on Monday, beating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3.
The defeat brought an end to Krejcikova’s 15-match winning streak and she will have to wait another year to see if she can emulate her late coach and mentor Jana Novotna in winning the title.
Gutsy effort
Barty may have won in straight sets, but that did not really tell the full tale of a hard fought 95-minute encounter against an opponent who had yet to win a main draw singles grass match prior to Wimbledon.
Barty’s serve was once again her Achilles heel, being broken early in the first set and then again in the second while serving for the match.
Fortunately for the Aussie supporters on Court No.1 – one of whom was holding a hand written card ‘It’s Barty’s Party’ – she found the return game when she most needed it, including the final break of serve to take the match.
