Barty powers through to net quarter-final berth
TOP-RANKED defending champion Ashleigh Barty advanced to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open by outlasting former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka 6-1 1-6 6-2.
Australia’s Barty broke five times, the last when Azarenka netted a forehand volley to end matters after one hour and 52 minutes at Hard Rock Stadium.
Barty, who had to save a match point on the way to a three-set victory over Kristina Kucova in the second round, dominated the first set but Azarenka broke her for a 2-0 lead in the second, then fought back from 0-40 down to hold for 3-0 on the way to forcing a third set, the Aussie failing to a point off her second serve in the second set.
2019 French Open winner Barty and Azarenka traded breaks in the second and third games of the final set. Azarenka denied Barty on two break chances in the fourth game but the 24-yearold Queenslander broke in the sixth to seize the lead and again on the final point.
On the men’s side, Croatia’s 32-year-old Marin Cilic defeated Italy’s 19-year-old Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-4 in 74 minutes to reach the round-of-16.
“Very pleased with today,” Cilic said.
“Just have to battle it out with these youngsters. I’ve got to keep the heads high for the veterans on the tour.”
World No.45 Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, feels he is working his way back into match fitness.
“I felt really well in the practices. The off-season went really well,” he said.
“Just missing matches. It just hurts the game a bit.”