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Barty looking to find groove against Azarenka


While most of the top players in the world have made it through all the rounds and overcome the difficult hurdles created by the world pandemic a year ago, Ashleigh Barty has remained at home. She gathered in Australia, missed the reimagined US Open and French Open, and quietly planned her exit strategy.

The result is a five-month work-in-progress, a sometimes stellar road adventure that took home the Wimbledon title, continued world No. 1 ranking – and a desperate case of homesickness.

Last month at the Tokyo Olympics, Australia went to Barty. She is one of 478 Australian athletes competing in 30 sports.

“Yes, it’s a bit of a weird feeling,” Barty said Monday at the Western & Southern Open. “Being around so many other Australians created this incredible sense of familiarity and normalcy.

“I think to be able to spend time with other athletes and know how much time and effort they have put into their Olympic career when there is another year. And for me to be able to see that has created a real sense of togetherness, and we are all united. I think at the Aussie headquarters in the Village, there’s a really strong sense of that. “

It’s been a long time, Barty remarked to her coach, Craig Tyzzer, because they heard a lot of Australian accents and casual conversation. Australia came away with 17 golds, seven silvers and 22 bronzes – one of which went to Barty and John Peers in mixed doubles.

In Cincinnati, the focus is single and, as often happens in WTA 1000 events, a loaded field awaits. Wednesday, after saying goodbye to the first round, the 25-year-old beat Heather Watson in the qualifying round with a score of 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Her serves aren’t always cooperative, her backhand is a bit weak and Barty seems to be lacking her signature confidence.

“She’s qualified here, so she’s played three games already,” Barty said in his on-field interview. “It’s always been a particularly difficult game for me to find my chances and my rhythm.

“There’s a bit of work to be done, but that’s okay. We have another chance tomorrow.”

The Round of 16 opportunity went to last year’s champion at the event, 14th seed Victoria Azarenka, who on Wednesday beat Alison Riske 6-2, 7-5.

Barty led 2-1, in their last meeting, in the round of 16 Miami, against Barty with an extreme score of 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.

The Western & Southern Open introduced these types of matches from the very beginning. On Tuesday night, in the dark of Court 4, Belinda Bencic reenacted her gold medal win over Marketa Vondrousova. In the second round on Wednesday, 15 of the 16 highest ranked WTA players competed.

Barty’s bronze medalist, appropriate in these difficult times, is sitting in quarantine in Australia. One of the men in charge of the Olympic team is sitting out a mandatory two weeks and will be leaving it with Barty’s parents, Josie and Robert, of Ipswich, Queensland.

“In the Village, it was really cool,” said Barty. “I love the fact that I can wear a hat, sunglasses, a mask and I feel like no one recognizes me. I think it’s unfortunate that a few of the athletes did.”

Truth be told, Barty is one of Australia’s most sought-after selfie subjects in the Olympic Village, and she’s happy to follow suit.

It was all a blur for Barty, who was forced to miss the second round of the French Open with a left hip injury. She returned to beat Karolina Pliskova in the Wimbledon final on July 9, traveling to the Bahamas for a “strange vacation”, then played her first singles match in Tokyo 15 days later.

It’s no surprise that victory at Wimbledon has yet to make the right impression.

“Honestly, no,” Barty said. “I think I’m still trying to understand in my brain what we can achieve as a team, and especially the adversities we went through between the French Open and Wimbledon.

For now, I’m happy to have another chance to play here in Cincy, to go to New York and play there. “

Other notable Thursday matches of the Round of 16:

No. 2 Naomi Osaka vs Jil Teichmann

After dropping the first set against Coco Gauff, Osaka came back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Teichmann dealt with the wildcard Bernarda Pera with a score of 6-1, 6-4.

Angelique Kerber vs Jelena Ostapenko

Kerber beat fourth seed Elina Svitolina 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, while Ostapenko advanced 6-7 (2), 5-4 as 13 Jennifer Brady retired with a goal injury. foot.

No. 8 Garbiñe Muguruza vs No. 9 Barbora Krejcikova

That’s the 2016 French Open champion ahead of the 2021 winner in Paris. Muguruza beat Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-3, while Krejcikova beat Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 7-6 (5).

No. 10 Belinda Bencic vs Karolina Muchova

Muchova surprised 7th seed Bianca Andreescu with a score of 6-4, 6-2. Bencic was a 7-6 (1), 6-1 winner over Shelby Rogers.

Paula Badosa vs Elena Rybakina

A rare game that hasn’t been obscured: Badosa has scored the impressive goal of the tournament so far, beating No. 3 Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Rybakina sent No. 15 Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-2.

No. 11 Petra Kvitova vs. Ons Jabeur

Jabeur surprised 6 Iga Swiatek 6-3, 6-3, while Kvitova beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 6-4.

Click here to see the full play order for Thursday, August 19.

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