Ashleigh Barty defeats Victoria Azarenka in 3rd round of Western and Southern Open
WTA World number one Ashleigh Barty defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour to reach the quarterfinals of the Western and South American Open on Thursday.
Top-ranked Barty rolled through the first 10 games of her match with defending champion Azarenka.
Australia’s strict quarantine rules mean there is no chance of a quick trip home to recharge her batteries but Barty says she always knew she would have to embrace the challenge of life on the road.
“I think once we left Australia at the beginning of this year, that was very much the mindset that we used, this is going to be a year like no other. It is going to be an adventure, and we are going to have to find ways to not only enjoy it but entertain ourselves at times”, she told reporters in Cincinnati.
Barty has certainly been having fun on the court, winning four singles titles in 12 tournaments this year, including her second Grand Slam crown at Wimbledon.
“There have been times when I’ve felt like days have been long, everything is dragged out,” said Barty.
She is next set to play French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova for a place in the Cincinnati semi-finals.
“Fortunately, I have been busy playing a lot of matches, which has been the best distraction possible to pass time …We are just trying to play each match and kind of live each day as best we can, make sure we laugh, make sure we smile, have a good time, and the rest will take care of itself.”
