AO - Kvitová d Barty, into her 2nd AO semi

Day 9 of Australian Open 2019, and the first quarter finals. First match in the night session on Rod Laver Arena was:

Petra Kvitová (8) (CZE) v Ash Barty (15) (AUS)

Kvitová served first.

A clean service hold, with Kvitová concentrating on the Barty backhand, and completing the job with a service winner.

Barty saved two break points, but on the third, she was forced into error and Kvitová led 2-0.  Kvitová served a double fault and was down a break point. It was saved with a forehand winner, and another of those sealed the game. 3-0.

Barty held serve, helped by some unforced Kvitová errors.  1-3.

A strong game, finished with a Czech forehand winner, and Kvitová was ahead 4-1.

Barty was broken to love, Kvitová clinching it with a backhand winner.  Serving for the set, Kvitová took it on the second set point, forcing a backhand error.  6-1 in a powerful display of tennis.

Set two began with Barty in much better shape, and she held serve easily to lead 1-0.

The Australian had break points on the Kvitová serve in the second game - saved with an ace, and fourth game - saved with a forehand winner. 

No other break points were faced through eight games and Barty came to the line at 4-4, hoping to hold and keep pressure on the dual Wimbledon champ.

With two forced forehand errors, Barty faced her first break points of the set - two of them.

A poor forehand gifted the break to Kvitová who would serve for the match.

A winning forehand created a match point for Kvitová, and a loose Barty backhand finished the battle.

Petra Kvitová played some of the highest standard tennis of the tournament in winning 6-1 6-4.

Petra’s win took her through to her second AO semi final - the other in 2012 - and she will remove Simona Halep from the number one ranking. While not guaranteed of assuming the top spot herself, she will be number three at worst, and definitely #1 should she win the title.