By Lance Jenkinson
Australia’s Ash Barty looks poised for a deep run in the Australian Open 2019 women’s singles.
The 22-year-old entered the tournament on the back of a final at the Sydney International – losing narrowly to Czech Petra Kvitova – and has continued her strong form into the grand slam.
The Queenslander has breezed through her opening two matches of the tournament, including a straight sets win over China’s Yafan Wang in the second round on Wednesday.
“Very happy with the way I have started 2019, not just here bit also in Perth and Sydney, hell of a start,” Barty said.
Barty only dropped five games en route to her win over Wang.
She was broken just once and managed to create four breaks of her own.
It was a performance that suggests the 15th seeded Barty is building.
“A straight sets match is obviously more straightforward than a three-setter,” Barty said. “Any time you can take a win, you gain confidence from that, but certainly my body is feeling great.
“Very nice to come out with two really clean matches and no we get to look forward to doubles and do a bit more singles as well.”
If Barty can overcome Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the third round, she would achieve her best finish to an Australian Open.
Barty has reached the third round on three occasions, including this year.
Sakkari, ranked 43 in the world, will present a “very tough” test, according to Barty.
“Maria I’m great friends with and we have a really good relationship,” Barty said. “We have played a couple of times now. She’s one of the best movers and competitors out there.”
