Roland Garros - Day 9 - Barty into quarters

Day 9 of Roland Garros 2019 and Ashleigh Barty (8) was in round of sixteen action against an American, but not the expected Serena Williams. Instead, the opposition came from Sofia Kenin who had dumped the great Serena in straight sets in the third round.

Neither Barty or Kenin had made it past the fourth round at Roland Garros previously; in fact this year was the first time Barty had won past the second round, and for Kenin this was only her second try at the clay court major, having lost her opening match in 2018.

Barty won both contests between the two before this one - in Charleston last year on clay, and earlier this year in Fed Cup on a US hard court.

Barty served first, and after losing the opening point, she produced two successive aces. A third ace sealed the game. Two forehand winners from the Australian highlighted a break of the Kenin serve, to love. Kenin hit a backhand winner to start game three, which saw her reach break point on the Barty serve, despite two more aces from the eighth seed. It was saved by a big serve, and Barty held for 3-0.

At 1-4, Kenin let slip a 30-0 lead, and dropped another serve to trail 1-5. 

Barty served for the set, and arrived at set point following a service winner. It was saved by a Kenin backhand return winner. A Barty backhand drifted long and she faced break point. A forehand error confirmed the break and Barty’s lead reduced to 5-2.

A,second time serving for the set, at 5-3, was more successful - quick to 40-0 with a winning forehand and efficient serving, Barty had set points. One saved through a brilliant backhand return winner. The set was over after Kenin found the net with a backhand. 6-3 to Barty.

Kenin rebounded, breaking the Barty serve in game two of the second set. No more break opportunities presented themselves, and only one deuce game occurred, as Kenin maintained her edge through to 5-3.

Serving to level the match, a Kenin double fault was untimely. A punishing forehand followed up some sound defence for the American, and a terrific drop shot brought her to 30-30. A poor Barty lob was easily picked off, producing set point, but a well crafted Australian drop shot drew an error, saving things temporarily. Another double fault and break point arrived. Barty netted a forehand return, and Kenin went on to hold serve and win the set 6-3, saving a second break point in the process.

Barty was keen to end the match, and began the deciding set in style, holding serve to love. It was followed up with a service break, and unfortunately for Kenin her scoreboard resistance was gone.

Ashleigh Barty won 6-3 3-6 6-0, becoming the only woman to make the quarter finals of both Grand Slam tournaments played so far in 2019.