2019 Wimbledon - 3rd Round - Barty d Dart

Day Six of Wimbledon 2019 and Ash Barty finally was scheduled a match on Centre Court. Her opponent was not the expected Garbiñe Muguruza but unseeded Brit woman Harriet Dart.

Never having played each other, it would take a little while to sort things out.

Dart had beaten Muguruza’s conqueror Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach this stage, but at a world ranking of 182, the odds were against winning against an in form Barty.

Barty served first and despite losing the opening point with a mistimed forehand, four straight points to the Australian signified a positive beginning, an ace finishing it off. Dart won her first point on serve, but Barty soon applied the pressure. A double fault at deuce, and a backhand clipping the net on break point, gave Barty a 2-0 advantage. A pair of forehand winners highlighted a consolidation of the break and a 3-0 scoreline for the top seed.

Dart manufactured two game points during her next service game, but on both occasions, Barty slammed the door shut, the first with control at the net, the second with a chip return which resulted in an errant backhand response. A Barty backhand down the line winner produced a break point and it was converted for a 4-0 lead.

The first love game of the match, sealed with an ace, put Barty within a game of taking the first set. A winning Dart overhead received a wicked drop shot response from Barty. A wonderful cross court forehand winner off the Dart racquet, and a netted Barty backhand produced two game points for the Brit. The first was converted when Barty pushed a backhand wide. At last the scoreboard ticked over for Dart who had contributed a good section of tennis.

However, not enough to discourage Barty who, when serving at 5-1 for the set, began with an ace. A backhand return error, and a second ace brought up three set points. One disappeared when Dart drilled a forehand winner down the line. An ace was the final point of a convincing set, 6-1 to Barty.

Five games into set two, Barty led 4-1, having broken Dart in both the her first and second service games. Barty held her serve twice in that time, surrendering just two points in total.

In game six, Barty was for the first time in the contest, placed under pressure at the line. Down 0-40, following a forced backhand error off a great Dart forehand, then a double fault, and finally a forehand error caused by an attacking Dart backhand beautifully placed down the line.

Barty calmly saved all three break points with typical variety of shot making and an ace. Dart didn’t give up, and had another chance to break after blasting a forehand return winner. Barty removed that opportunity with poise. An ace followed and and brilliance at the net sealed the game and a 5-1 lead.

Dart had 15-15 after Barty hit the net with a forehand, but it was the final point she won. Backhand errors presented Barty with two match points. Another backhand ended wide and ended the match. Ash Barty won 6-1 6-1, and entered the round of sixteen.