Clay target for in-form Ash
AUSTRALIAN No.1 Ash Barty has extended her streak to 11 straight wins to reach her fourth quarter-final of the year after beating Yulia Putintseva in the Madrid Open.
The Miami Open champion continued her fine form by fighting back from a set down to overcome her Kazakhstani opponent 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Barty’s win sets up a clash with French Open champion Simona Halep for what will be her maiden Premier clay quarter-final appearance.
Victory over the Romanian former world No.1 would represent another huge scalp on what the Queenslander admits is not her favourite surface less than a month before the French Open gets underway.
Admitting she will be up against it against Halep, Barty said: “It’s the absolute test, to play against the best.
“I think without a doubt she’s the best, most consistent clay courter out there. We had a quality practice session earlier this week. It was nice, first time we’ve hit together.”