Ashleigh Barty downs Alexandrova to remain on title course

Saturday, 13 February 2021 at 10:31

World no. 1 Ashleigh Barty will compete in the last 16 at the home Major for the third straight year following a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova in 80 minutes.

Barty lost serve twice and erased that deficit with five return games on her tally, hitting 14 winners and 19 unforced errors and taming her strokes more efficiently than the Russian. The Aussie had the advantage in the more extended rallies, mixing up her game nicely to seal the deal and preserve energy for the upcoming matches.

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Alexandrova grabbed an early break in the opening game following Barty's double fault and fended off three break chances in the next one to forge a 2-0 advantage. Ashleigh got her name on the scoreboard in the third game with a service winner and pulled the break back at 15 when Ekaterina sprayed a backhand mistake to level the score at 2-2.

Barty converted the third break chance in game six to open a 4-2 gap, held at 30 and closed the set in 39 minutes when Alexandrova netted a forehand in game eight. Both players served well at the beginning of the second set before Ekaterina broke with a great drop shot that sent her 3-2 ahead.

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The Russian forced an error from the Aussie for a hold at love and a 4-2 advantage, looking good to bring a decider. Returning in game eight, Barty seized the sixth break chance to level the score at 4-4 and earn momentum before sealing the deal with a forehand drive-volley winner in game ten that propelled her into the last 16.

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