| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| A. Barty (AUS) (15) | 7 | 6 |
| M. Sakkari (GRE) | 5 | 1 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by A. Barty | 6 - 1 | A. Barty leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by A. Barty | 7 - 5 | A. Barty leads 1 to 0 |
Ashleigh Barty will look to keep her hopes and dreams of a maiden grand slam title alive when she squares off with Greek world No.43 Maria Sakkari in a third-round encounter. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11am (AEDT).
Barty, who came into the first grand slam of the year ranked at No.15 in the world, could well make a deep run at Melbourne Park and have a better ranking by the time she exits her home nation and heads back to Europe for the rest of the season.
The Australian has made a phenomenal start to 2019 really. A solid effort at the Hopman Cup, including a victory over former grand slam champion Garbine Muguruza, preceded a Sydney International tournament where she made the final.
There, Barty came away with three consecutive upsets against Simona Halep, Elise Mertens and Kiki Bertens, before falling to Petra Kvitova in the final.
She is yet to drop a set at Melbourne Park either, in fact, dropping just nine games across four sets against Luksika Kumkhum Yafan Wang.
Sakkari, on the other hand, also played the Hopman Cup and while she picked up two wins against Katie Boulter and Belinda Bencic, she was blown out of the water by Serena Williams.
The trend continued with a loss to Magda Linnette in Hobart’s first round, before she came away with back-to-back wins in Melbourne to qualify for the third round, with the win in Round 1 over Jelena Ostapenko particularly impressive.
It might have taken three sets, but she dealt with the former French Open champion in spectacular fashion, before having an easier victory over Astra Sharma last time out.
Still, Barty is a massive step up from those players, and Sakkari will have to be at her best to compete with the Aussie, ensuring she attacks the net, serves well and tries to take time away from Barty’s all-court game style, which has been tough to shut down in the last 12 months during her phenomenal rankings rise.
The pair have played two previous matches, splitting the ledger at one apiece.
Prediction
Sakkari had a great win in the first round of this grand slam, but she often struggles in bettering the best players in the world. Right now, Barty looks like, and is playing like, one of those upper echelon players. It’d come as a major shock if the Australian didn’t get through to the final 16.
Barty in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first match on Rod Laver Arena and 2019 Australian Open today from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 11am (AEDT)
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
TV: Live, Channel 9
Online: Live, 9Now
Overall record: Playd 2, Barty 1, Sakkari 1
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Ash looks really good Bruiser....hope your punt's a winner mate!!
Maggie
Guest
Woohoo again! “Ice bath, physio, coffee, cricket.”!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2019 Australian Open as Ashleigh Barty advanced to the fourth round. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back this evening for two matches, with Rafael Nadal set to take on Alex De Minaur from 7pm (AEDT). It'll be followed by Kimberly Birrell and Angelique Kerber, so be sure to join me then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
See ya then Chris!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Ashleigh Barty defeats Maria Sakkari in straight sets Ashleigh Barty has beaten Greek world No.41 Maria Sakkari to ensure she would go through to the fourth round of her home grand slam at Melbourne Park for the first time in her career. Barty was pushed hard during the first set by Sakkari, in what was an intriguing match where easy service games in the first half hour were difficult to come by for both players. The Australian broke serve first for 3-1, but got broken straight back, putting the first set on serve, where it remained until Sakkari served at 6-5. Barty, with some phenomenal court movement, got the job done, but worryingly went off court for a medical timeout between sets, with the issue looking to be hip or abs. She came good in the second set though, although questions still remained about her court movement and at times, a general lack of aggression hitting the ball. Sakkari would only hold serve once during the second set though as Barty broke twice and raced away with the victory. The victory puts her up to a new live WTA ranking of 13, which, if it proves to be too tru at the end of the tournament, would be a career high point for the Australian. Barty will face a difficult battle in the fourth round though, taking on the winner of Maria Sharapova and third seed Caroline Wozniacki, who are scheduled as the third match on Rod Laver Arena later today. Barty...... 7 6 Sakkari... 5 1
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
I backed Barty to win the whole thing at $29 and she’s now in to $15, comprehensive win today but next round against Wozniacki will be the litmus test
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
Absolutely Scotty!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers? Barty on the ribs. "They are good. Body came good in the second set so no stress there."
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hey Chris, cheers mate. Yep. One Aussie into the fourth round. Outstanding performance. Hopefully De Minaur and Birrell can cause upsets tonight! Looking forward to calling those.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah - ribs or hip. Whatever it is, a bit of a concern.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, ASHLEIGH BARTY There it is! Lovely approach shot from Barty down the middle, then she puts the volley away to the corner and Ashleigh Barty is through to the fourth round of her home grand slam for the very first time, setting up a duel with either Caroline Wozniacki or Maria Sharapova, but also guaranteeing ranking points and a huge pay day of at least $260,000. Not a bad effort from Sakkari out there, but she fell apart in the second set after being unable to get it done in the first. Barty...... 7 6 Sakkari... 5 2
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
G'day Scotty. Thanks for the great call as always mate! Geez Ash looks fabulous - can only wish her the best - real class and an absolute pleasure to watch!!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Barty. The second is at the body and returned on a backhand with good depth. Barty pushed out to the corner, then she sends a forehand wide running the other way. One match point saved. Barty...... 7 5 - 40 Sakkari... 5 1 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Barty fires it out wide. Two match points! Barty...... 7 5 - 40 Sakkari... 5 1 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve and the return is blocked into the net by Sakkari who swings it back across her body. Barty...... 7 5 - 30 Sakkari... 5 1 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's awesome defence from Sakkari to stay in the point and ultimately win it. Great depth with Barty eventually slicing a backhand long. Barty...... 7 5 - 15 Sakkari... 5 1 - 15
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
Knock her over early Barty and get some treatment on the ribs
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Barty. The second is out wide and returned on the forehand, before Sakkari nets a forehand to a deep slice. Barty...... 7 5 - 15 Sakkari... 5 1 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
DOUBLE BREAK BARTY! What a shot from Barty! Huge forehand. She was on the run there, getting to the approach ball, but hit it on a staggering angle. Barty to serve for the match with a double break in the second set. Barty...... 7 5 - Sakkari... 5 1 -