| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| P. Kvitova (CZE) (8) | 6 | 6 |
| A. Barty (AUS) [15] | 1 | 4 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by P. Kvitova | 6 - 4 | P. Kvitova leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by P. Kvitova | 6 - 1 | P. Kvitova leads 1 to 0 |
In-form Australian Ashleigh Barty will look to keep a dream home grand slam run alive when she takes on eighth seed Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7pm (AEDT).
Barty, in her first grand slam quarter-final, is in career-best form, and continues to improve each and every time she hits the court.
The Australian came away with a big three-set victory last time out over the power and experience of Maria Sharapova, and while it was the first set she lost for the tournament, her demeanour under pressure was impressive to watch.
Barty had previously recorded straight-set victories over Luksika Kumkhum, Yafan Wang and more impressively, world No.41 Maria Sakkari, with the second set of that match ending 6-1.
The victory against Sharapova came after she dropped the first set, but Barty quickly rediscovered her all court game, moved with excellence and didn’t let up when she got opportunities, making the most of every single one through the third set, then holding calm again after being broken during the third.
It’s the all-court game which is going to need to be at its best against Kvitova, who only a week and a half ago beat the Aussie in the final of the Sydney International.
The summer of tennis has been stunning for Barty, but to date, across eight matches against players in the top 30, only Kvitova and Angelique Kerber have gotten the better of her.
Kvitova herself has continued a strong run of form since winning the tournament in Sydney, not dropping a set on the grounds of Melbourne Park.
She has had a substantially easier run, but still had to get past Belinda Bencic and the rapidly improving Amanda Anisimova, who had been on a serious run to make the fourth round as it was.
Kvitova, like Barty, can play at all parts of the court, but the biggest part of her game will need to be the serve.
If it fires and is consistent, then the pressure will be on Barty just to get into opposition service games, let alone find a way to break.
Prediction
Barty has been on a roll. Her victory over Sharapova should fill her with untold levels of confidence, and the rapidly improving Aussie has held her nerve well throughout the tournament. She will have learnt a lot from the Sydney final as well and so should advance to her first grand slam semi-final.
Barty in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this Australian Open quarter-final from 7pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 7pm (AEDT)
Court: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
TV: Live, Channel 9
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Kvitova $1.57, Barty $2.32
Overall record: Played 3, Kvitova 3, Barty 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2019 Australian Open as Petra Kvitova got the better of Ashleigh Barty in the quarter-finals. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Right now, you can switch over to follow live scores of Rafael Nadal and Frances Tiafoe, then, tomorrow, scores of all four matches. We will be back with live coverage of the semi-finals from Thursday at roughly 2pm (AEDT). Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kvitova will now take on the unseeded Danielle Collins on Thursday in the semi-finals of the 2019 Australian Open. If she plays like that, she will be hard to stop in certainly the semi-final, but probably the final as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, PETRA KVITOVA Fault. The second is kicked out wide, Barty returns the backhand into the net, and in a little more than an hour of tennis, Kvitova has advanced to the final four at Melbourne Park. Simply blew Ashleigh Barty off the court tonight. The Aussie couldn't do anything about it really - didn't play all that badly, but Kvitova just a class above. She would have beaten most players on the WTA tour this evening. Hit every line on the court, nailed her groundstrokes and served huge every single time Barty had an opportunity at getting a break up. Still, Ash will have learnt plenty from that. At 22, she still has a huge future ahead of her. Kvitova... 6 6 - Barty....... 1 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kvitova again. The second is fired up the T, and Barty returned pretty well, but then got pushed off the court, put the lob up and Kvitova hit the overhead. Match point. Kvitova... 6 5 - 40 Barty....... 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kvitova. The second is out wide and Barty gets into the point, then hits the sideline with a crosscourt backhand. Difficult shot that, which Kvitova can't get back into play. Kvitova... 6 5 - 30 Barty....... 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Kvitova goes wide. Kvitova... 6 5 - 30 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, but Barty returns well, gets into the net, volleys three times and then Kvitova puts one long going straight at Barty. Kvitova... 6 5 - 15 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kvitova serving for the match. Wide serve, short return and then Barty nets a heavy ball. Kvitova... 6 5 - 15 Barty....... 1 4 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
KVITOVA BREAKS! Huge serve, short return, but Barty has put the driving forehand long on the approach and that, will probably be that. Kvitova... 6 5 - Barty....... 1 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve, but that's just been returned so, so well. Barty puts the forehand into the net on the run and here are two break points which might as well be match points. Kvitova... 6 4 - 40 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
This set has been boring. I hate game for game.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Barty. Pressure on here. The second is returned on a huge forehand, then Kvitova goes crosscourt and Barty slices long on the backhand wing. Kvitova... 6 4 - 30 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's just been monstered from Kvitova. Huge backhand return, then one through the court. Kvitova... 6 4 - 15 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Barty settles into the crosscourt backhand slices with great depth here, but then plays the short one up the line and Kvitova can't get there. Kvitova... 6 4 - 0 Barty....... 1 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve from Kvitova and she holds as Barty puts the crosscourt return on the backhand wide. Kvitova... 6 4 - Barty....... 1 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Time violation warning for Kvitova now. The serve is a good one though, out wide, returned short and she hammers the backhand down the sideline. Kvitova... 6 3 - 40 Barty....... 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Kvitova. The second sees Barty play some excellent crosscourt balls, before Kvitova sends a running slice long. Kvitova... 6 3 - 30 Barty....... 1 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kvitova with a fault. The second is returned on a backhand, then Barty goes up the middle and Kvitova hits long from the baseline. Kvitova... 6 3 - 30 Barty....... 1 4 - 15