Ashleigh Barty will continue her dream Aussie Open campaign against qualifier Mona Barthel in the third round. Can the Australian go a step further or will the German cause a major upset? Join The Roar from 7pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
Since returning to tennis after a code switch to cricket, Ash Barty has exploded onto the WTA Tour with some strong performances this summer.
The 20-year-old started the year at the Brisbane International, earning a win over Serb Aleksandra Krunic 6-2, 6-2 before pushing world No.1 Angelique Kerber to three sets in a miraculous display, going down 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
Barty then travelled south over the Bass Strait to Hobart where she earned scalps of Su Jeong Jang and Nicole Gibbs before withdrawing from the tournament during the qualifying stages as a result of a shoulder injury.
Barty has shown no signs of that niggle so far at Melbourne Park, yet to drop a set against two tough opponents.
Barty opened her campaign against Annika Beck winning through against the German 6-4, 7-5 before knocking off Shelby Rogers 7-5, 6-1, the American having sent world No.4 Simona Halep home in the first round.
Barty is in the middle of a career-best slam having never been to the third round before, her opponent Mona Barthel has never been past this point despite having reached the stage twice before at Melbourne Park as well as once each at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows.
Barthel opened 2017 in Auckland, gaining qualification with wins over Magda Linette, Joanna Carswell and Dalila Jakupovic before falling to Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 during the first round.
The 26-year-old struggled to get past Danka Kovinic in qualifying at Sydney, pushing her to three sets 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
Barthel has had a tough path to the third round, having to go through qualifying as the world No.181. She is yet to drop a set however with wins in qualifying over Richel Hogenkamp 6-2, 6-1, Teliana Pereira 6-0, 6-4 and Maryna Zanevska 6-4, 6-3.
She entered the main draw against rising Aussie teen Destanee Aiava, knocking over the powerful 16-year-old in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 before causing an upset against seeded Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig 6-4, 6-4.
The Rod Laver Arena crowd will be a different experience for both players however, the locals will be right behind Barty as one of two players from down under left in the women’s draw
Barty and Barthel have played each other once, the German winning at Hobart back in 2013 2-6, 6-0, 6-1.
The winner will take on either Duan Ying-ying or 2003 finalist and thirteenth seed Venus Williams in the fourth round.
Prediction
Ashleigh Barty will continue her strong charge and move into the fourth round with a win in three sets.
Barty in three sets.
Join The Roar from 7pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
Be sure to drop a comment in the box below if you’re watching the match.
Maggie
Guest
There was a lot to like in Ash Barty's two matches. I hope we see her going deeper into rounds as she gets more tournament experience.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar's coverage of Ashleigh Barty vs Mona Barthel. I'll be back tomorrow night from 7pm (AEDT) for live coverage of Daria Gavrilova vs Timea Bacsinszky. Meanwhile, Cronan Yu has live coverage of Roger Federer vs Tomas Berdych. You can catch all the action here. Thanks for following along.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
WOMEN'S SINGLES FOURTH ROUND Angelique Kerber [1] vs CoCo Vandeweghe Sorana Cirstea vs A.Sevastova [32]/G.Muguruza [7] Mona Barthel vs Venus Williams [13] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [24] vs Svetlana Kuznetsova [8]
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
MEN'S SINGLES FOURTH ROUND Andy Murray [1] vs Mischa Zverev T.Berdych [10]/R.Federer [17] vs L.Lacko/K.Nishikori [5] Stan Wawrinka [4] vs Andreas Seppi Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [12] vs Daniel Evans
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
AND THEN THERE WAS ONE... With Bernard Tomic and Ashleigh Barty bowing out on Day 5, Daria Gavrilova is the only Australian left in the men's or women's singles draw. She takes on twelfth seed Timea Bacsinszky tomorrow night from 7pm (AEDT) and we will have live coverage of all the action on The Roar.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
DAY 6 KEY MATCHUPS Nicole Gibbs vs Serena Williams Alexander Zverev vs Rafael Nadal Caroline Wozniacki vs Johanna Konta Gilles Simon vs Milos Raonic Daria Gavrilova (AUS) vs Timea Bacsinszky Grigor Dimitrov vs Richard Gasquet
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
AROUND THE GROUNDS Mona Barthel defeated Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Daniel Evans defeated Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-5, 7-6, 7-6 B.Mattek-Sands/M.Bryan defeated Ar.Rodionova (AUS)/J.Smith (AUS) 6-4, 4-6 [10-6] S.Mirza/B.Strycova defeated S.Stosur (AUS)/Z.Shuai 6-1, 6-4 A.Bolt (AUS)/B.Mousley (AUS) defeated R.Bopanna/P.Cuevas 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 C.Yung-Jan/L.Kubot defeated D.Gavrilova (AUS)/L.Saville (AUS) 6-3, 7-5 P.Carreno Busta/G.Garcia-Lopez defeated M.Barton (AUS)/M.Ebden (AUS) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 H.Kontinen/J.Peers (AUS) defeated M.Baghdatis/G.Muller 6-3, 6-2 M.Polmans (AUS)/A.Whittington (AUS) defeated D.Nestor/E.Roger-Vasselin 0-6, 6-3, 6-4
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
FINAL Mona Barthel has sent Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty crashing out in a three-set thriller to book her place in the fourth round against Venus Williams. Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 Mona Barthel 6 3 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty forces the error off service. That is game, set and match. Barthel is through to the fourth round. Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 Mona Barthel 6 3 6
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barthel puts it deep off the backhand Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 15 Mona Barthel 6 3 5 40
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty plays it deep off the forehand again, match point Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 0 Mona Barthel 6 3 5 40
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barthel goes to the body, Barty is jammed and the German hits the service winner Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 0 Mona Barthel 6 3 5 30
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barthel on serve, Barty forces it deep off the backhand Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 0 Mona Barthel 6 3 5 15
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty puts the forehand long, unforced error. Barthel breaks and will serve for the match Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 Mona Barthel 6 3 5
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty posts it wide and deep of the forehand, break point Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 30 Mona Barthel 6 3 4 40
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty with a strong backhand, it leads to Barthel forcing it out off the forehand Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 30 Mona Barthel 6 3 4 30
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty with a massive ace down the T Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 15 Mona Barthel 6 3 4 30
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
The ball drops in front of the feet of Barty after a strong forehand by Barthel, the Aussie forces it into the net Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 0 Mona Barthel 6 3 4 30
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty on serve, she plays the forehand deep just rocketing too much from behind the baseline Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 0 Mona Barthel 6 3 4 15
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Barty is stretched wide to the backhand, she forces it into the net Ashleigh Barty 4 6 3 Mona Barthel 6 3 4