Barty calm as rivals Williams, Osaka fall

Ashleigh Barty's French Open run is wide open after Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka - the next two big guns in her path - were beaten at Roland Garros.

Ashleigh Barty celebrates victory over Andrea Petkovic in the third round of the 2019 French Open (Getty)

Ashleigh Barty celebrates victory over Andrea Petkovic in the third round of the 2019 French Open (Getty) Source: Getty

Ashleigh Barty is doing her best not to get ahead of herself after the Australian's path to a French Open crown was spectacularly cleared.

The world No.8 calmly booked a spot in the round of 16 with a 6-3 6-1 defeat of Andrea Petkovic on the same day Serena Williams and world No.1 Naomi Osaka fell.



Williams was slated to face Barty next as she pursued a record-equalling 24th grand slam title while Osaka - Barty's projected quarter-final opponent - had won the last two slams.

Instead Barty will play world No.35 Sofia Kenin after the 20-year-old fearlessly blasted compatriot Williams off the court.



The winner of Madison Keys or Osaka's conqueror Katerina Siniakova would be Barty's quarter-final opponent, with defending champion Simona Halep (third seed) and last year's finalist Sloane Stephens (seventh seed) the only higher-ranked women in the draw.

Former champion Garbine Muguruza is another lurking in the bottom half of the draw, due to play Stephens on Sunday.

Barty, 23, has made a career of not thinking too far ahead and won't start now as she hunts Australia's first French Open title since Margaret Court won her fifth in 1973.
"Obviously there's talk and it's unavoidable to hear what else is happening around the draw. But for me, I can't control any of that. I can't control what other girls are doing.

"I can only control how I prepare, how I play, and ultimately how we go about my next match."

Williams came from a set and a break down to beat Barty in the second round in Paris last year but the Australian wasn't fussed about the rematch falling through.

"You can only play who's on the other side of the net," she said. "There's so much talk around the draws when they come out, and so much changes every single day. You have to take absolutely nothing away from Sofia.

"She's played an incredible match, obviously, to beat a world-class champion. And the challenge will be just as great coming from her as it would have been if it was Serena."

Barty resisted some early pressure from Petkovic to claim five straight games and lay the path to victory. She hasn't lost a set in her three victories so far.

"I've been able to close out matches well," Barty said. "I've been able to win some matches in business-like fashion, but they're certainly not easy matches, that's for sure.

"I feel like I'm playing well and being able to execute to make the score lines look a little easier than the match actually is."
Barty's fellow compatriot Jordan Thompson wasn't so lucky, going down in straight sets against Juan Martín del Potro (4-6 4-6 0-6). 



But he said he's taking plenty of positives from making it into the third round at Roland Garros:
20-year-old Tsitsipas completed the win against Filip Krajinoivic, 7-5 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6(6) after play was suspended late on Friday evening to secure his second straight last-16 appearance at a Grand Slam. 



The first Greek in 83 years to make the final 16 at Roland Garros will meet Stan Wawrinka there who downed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5) 7-6(4) 7-6(8), also over two days.



A ruthlessly efficient Simona Halep marched into the fourth round dropping just three games against Lesia Tsurenko (6-2 6-1)



Top seed Novak Djokovic barely broke a sweat as he sauntered past qualifier Salvatore Caruso 6-3 6-3 6-2. 



Gael Monfils only needed three to down Antoine Hoang (6-3 6-2 6-3).



The Frenchman will meet Dominic Thiem who defeated Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5. Alexander Zverev also moved through to the fourth round after a five set thriller against Dusan Lajovic (6-4 6-2 4-6 1-6 6-2). 

 


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Source: Reuters, SBS

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