Barty continues clinical Australian Open run: "I'm just having fun, to be honest"

Tuesday, 25 January 2022 at 17:00

Ashleigh Barty continued her clinical streak so far at the Australian Open sweeping aside Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-0 in just 63 minutes to reach the semi-finals.

But how does Barty reflect on her streak so far and what she has been doing differently for each opponent.

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"I'm just having fun, to be honest," she said. "I'm having fun trying to problem solve out on the court, and each and every opponent has been different. Each and every opponent has presented me with a different challenge and forced me to use another tool in my toolbox.

"I have been able to execute, which is sometimes important - you can have all the right ideas but you need to be able to do it under the pump. I've been able to do that this week, which has been really exciting.

"I think it's about understanding the one-on-one battle. I think you can do all the preparation in the world and have all of the stats, the tactics, everything pre-planned - but your opponent has the ability to adapt and change and come out and do something completely different to what you expected.

"So I think being able to learn on the fly in a match is really important. If there's a shot or a pattern that's hurting me and putting me under pressure, I try and figure out a way how to get out of that pattern before - and not necessarily just hit my way out, I try and think my way out a little bit more first - and then try and find a way where I can hurt them.

"So I think it's just a little bit of cat-and-mouse - but not cat-and-mouse in a way of just trying to understand the game in a different way, not always feeling like I have to be forceful or force my hand to make a change."

Keys tie

"Maddie is an exceptional athlete. She has a great serve, great first strike off the return and off her first ball after her serve. A lot of the time it's about trying to put her in an uncomfortable position, try and get her off-balance, because if she controls the centre of the court, the match is on her racquet," she added.

"I need to be able to find a balance, problem solve my way through it, try and work out a way to nullify her strengths and bring it back to my patterns if I can, and understand it's not always in my control. We accept that, move on, go again to the next point."

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🇦🇺 CLINICAL 🇦🇺 @ashbarty defeats Jessica Pegula 6-2 6-0 in 63 minutes to advance to another #AusOpen semifinal. #AO2022

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9:35 AM · Jan 25, 2022

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