In a battle between French Open champions, 2019 champion Ashleigh Barty ended the 15-match winning streak of reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova to advance to her fifth career Grand Slam quarterfinal on Monday at the Wimbledon championships.
The top seed rallied from a break down in the first set as she trailed 2-4, but was able to overcome her in-form opponent to secure the 7-5 6-3 victory.
"That 2-4 game in the first set was a big one. I felt like a couple of those break points down, I think there were one or two, I played the point a bit more aggressively and was able to be a bit more assertive. That was kind of a little bit of a change," Barty said after the match.
"It was just about giving myself time to settle into the match in a sense of feeling super free and super comfortable, just working my way into games."
The Aussie hit seven aces and 22 winners, saving 8 of 10 break points faced. Although the second set saw seven games go past deuce, it was the top seed who emerged victorious, booking her spot in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in her career.
"In a sense of being in the quarters, I'm happy. I'm excited. It's another stepping stone for me," added Barty. "It's another first, I suppose. It's kind of going to be a new situation, a new scenario, one that I'm going to look forward to.
"I'm going to enjoy it no matter what. I think it's a stepping stone to what is kind of one of my biggest dreams. We just keep chipping away."
The Australian will face compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarterfinals, after Tomljanovic's opponent, British wildcard Emma Raducanu, was forced to retire in the second set due to an undisclosed injury.