Brilliant Barty sweeps into Melbourne quarter-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters): Ash Barty made light of the challenge of unseeded American Shelby Rogers to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the third year in a row with a commanding 6-3 6-4 victory yesterday.

The world number one has tried to deflect talk that she might end Australia's 43-year wait for a homegrown champion on Saturday but she looked every bit the title contender as she swept into the last eight without dropping a set.

With no crowds until Thursday at the earliest because of Melbourne's five-day coronavirus lockdown and no Australian men left in the singles draw, Barty has the hopes of organisers as well as fans resting on her shoulders.

Rogers has played quarter-finals at two Grand Slams and made a habit of upsetting highly-ranked players but she was unable to get enough of a handle on Barty's serve to make her high quality returns a factor.

The Australian mixed up the direction of her serve to defuse her opponent's biggest weapon – the American got only 61% of her returns in the court – and utilised her punched forehands and trademark backhand slice to great effect.