| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| A. Barty (AUS) (1) | 7(8) | 6 |
| P. Kvitova (CZE) [7] | 6(6) | 2 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by A. Barty | 6 - 2 | A. Barty leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by A. Barty | 7(8) - 6(6) | A. Barty leads 1 to 0 |
Australian Ashleigh Barty will seek quarter-final redemption against Czech Petra Kvitova on Tuesday at the Australian Open. Join The Roar for all the action with live scores and coverage of the match from 12:30pm (AEDT).
After she was named Young Australian of the Year on Saturday evening, Barty survived a second-set scare to beat American Alison Riske 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 and move through to the final eight.
The top seed started well against Riske, but unforced errors throughout the second set meant she found herself in a decider.
Barty regathered herself to break early in the third, but was broken back three games later, before she converted break points at 5-4 for the match.
It was another tough comeback win for the right-hander, admitting she struggled – particularly with the wind – yet worked it out in the end.
The 23-year-old’s opponent in this quarter final is Petra Kvitova, a woman Barty has played seven times including five meetings in 2019.
Kvitova also had a challenging fourth-round match. The seventh seed overcame a tie-break loss in the opening set to win 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 against young Greek talent Maria Sakkari.
Unplayable Kvitova returned in the second set and more so in the third. After 132 minutes on court, the left-hander had booked her place in the quarters.
During the 2019 Australian summer, Kvitova had the better of Barty, beating her twice – including in an Australian Open quarter-final 6-1, 6-4.
The pair last met in the round-robin stage of the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, where Barty won 6-4, 6-2 and went on to become the WTA 2019 champion.
Prediction
The world number one has her work cut out for her on Tuesday. Despite her slow start on Sunday, Kvitova is a talented shot-maker, who Barty will have to improve her game to match.
With the Vegemite crew and an Australian crowd behind her, Barty will get her revenge after last year’s loss to Kvitova in Melbourne and move through to the semi-finals.
Barty in three sets.
Join The Roar for the quarter-final from 12:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your thoughts in the comment section below.
Time: 12:30pm (AEDT) – estimated time only. Match will start at 12:30pm (AEDT) or after Kenin vs Jabeur, whichever is later
Court: Rod Laver Arena
TV: Nine
Online: 9Now
Odds: Barty $1.72, Kvitova $2.10
Head-to-head: Kvitova 4-3
Ranking: Barty 1, Kvitova 8
Career titles: Kvitova 27, Barty 8
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Ah, Ash is a legend.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining The Roar today for the Aussie's successful quarterfinal rematch against Kvitova. We'll have coverage of the semi-finals on Thursday.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Top seed Ash Barty defeats Czech Petra Kvitova 7-6, 6-2 to move through to the semi-finals of the 2020 Australian Open. It was a tight contest in the opening set, both players had breaks of serve, but were unable to consolidate. After nearly an hour on court the pair were locked at 6-all in the opening set. Kvitova took the early advantage in the tie-breaker, Ash hit back and then had her own advantage, before Kvitova kept herself in it. Barty took the opening set 8-6 in the tie break, a real steal. Petra went to change and reset herself, however, it didn't work well. Barty came out firing to start the second set and took an early break. The Aussie followed up by holding, break and holding again to take a 4-0 lead in the second set. With the sun making serving difficult at one end, Kvitova broke back, though it didn't last long. The world No. 1 broke immediately and served the match out, finished with an ace. An impressive performance from the top seed, demolishing a quality player in the second set to be the first Aussie woman since Wendy Turnbull to make the semi-final of the Aus Open. She is the first Australian in 15 years to make the semi's of the home slam. Ash Barty now faces Sofia Kenin (14) in the semi-final on Thursday. (1) Barty 7 | 6 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty stitching a few people up post-match, first getting Dellacqua onto the court to take over the interview and then her coach Craig Tyzzer, who - she jokes - carries his 'coach of the year' trophy around in his backpack. (1) Barty 7 | 6 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Game, Set, Match Ashleigh Barty Ash ends it with an ace, defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6, 6-2. Barty moves through to the semi finals at the 2020 Australian Open, the first Aussie woman to do so since Wendy Turnbull in 1984 at Kooyong. (1) Barty 7 | 6 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Fantastic ash, to dispose of Kvitova like that in the second was powerful tennis.
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Serve down the centre is good again! Kvitova lunges at it and sends it into the crowd. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | AD (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 40
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty hits the winner up the line... or does she, Kvitova thinks it's long. Nope, well in. Deuce. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 40 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 40
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty hits a first serve down the centre. One break point saved. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 30 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 40
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty challenges her first serve, then misses around the same area with her forehand. Barty challenges it. Out by the smallest margin. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 15 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 40
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Deep shot from Barty, forces Kvitova to hit the forehand on the run, which she strikes long and wide. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 15 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 30
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kvitova hits the deep corner with that forehand. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 0 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 30
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty serving for the match here, second serve is returned with less force than usual off Kvitova's racquet, Barty misses the winner down the line though. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 0 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 15
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Break, Barty Double fault and Kvitova hands Barty back her double break. Ash will now serve for the match at 5-2 in the second. (1) Barty 7 | 5 | 0 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 0
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty gets a look at the second serve, goes to Kvitova's deep forehand corner twice, she hits the second into the net. (1) Barty 7 | 4 | 40 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 30
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Barty returns with the slice, keeps the forehand in play, but Kvitova goes back to where Barty left and nails the winner. 30-all. (1) Barty 7 | 4 | 30 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 30
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Kvitova hits the line with her forehand, Barty couldn't do much about that. (1) Barty 7 | 4 | 30 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 15
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Backhand into the net now from Kvitova. (1) Barty 7 | 4 | 30 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 0
Sarah Wildy
Roar Guru
Unforced error on the forehand by Kvitova. (1) Barty 7 | 4 | 15 (7) Kvitova 6 | 2 | 0