World No.1 Ashleigh Barty says she’s largely ignoring her draw at the Australian Open while she tries to win the Adelaide International tournament.
Australia’s world No.1 says her Australian Open draw is irrelevant as she chases another WTA title at the Adelaide International.
Barty says her focus is purely on playing red-hot American Danielle Collins in a semi-final in Adelaide on Friday night, and not her draw for the Open starting Monday.
“I have seen it,” Barty told reporters in Adelaide after her quarter-final win on Thursday night.
“But, look, I’m not going to think about it until whenever we’re done here (in Adelaide).
“Sunday night, Monday morning, we will worry about that.
“I have seen that I will play on Monday but I’m looking forward to tomorrow first before focusing on anything for next week.”
(Imaginechina via AP Images)
At the Open, Barty has drawn Ukrainian world No.120 Lesia Tsurenko in a first-round fixture.
But after a relatively user-friendly first week, her second week could get tricky.
Barty may have to beat Alison Riske, Petra Kvitova, defending champion Naomi Osaka or seven-time winner Serena Williams in consecutive matches to reach the championship decider.
But Barty says all that must wait: her sole objective is Collins in Friday night’s semi in Adelaide.
The American world No.27, who made the Australian Open semi-finals last year, is in blistering touch – she has demolished two top-15 players in her past two outings.
Collins on Thursday blitzed world No.7 Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-1, after a 6-3 6-1 dismantling of world No.15 Sofia Kenin in the second round in Adelaide.
Collins also dropped just three games in winning her initial two matches at last week’s Brisbane International before falling to compatriot Madison Keys in a quarter-final.
“Danielle is obviously striking the ball exceptionally well,” Barty said.
“In Brisbane she started with a bang.
“She is very much a first-strike player, she has no fear on those first couple of balls early in rallies.
“So it will be important for me to have my running shoes on, try and neutralise when I can and then bring in variety and try and throw her off a little bit if I can.”
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka meets Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska in the other semi-final in Adelaide.
© AAP
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