Australian Open 2022: Ash Barty defeats Amanda Anisimova to book quarter-final berth

Rod Laver made a big call on Ash Barty and, after the way she responded to what Amanda Anisimova threw at her on Sunday night, he could be right.

From unbreakable to “unbeatable”: Ashleigh Barty’s Australian Open evolution has just six sets to go before she’ll earn another moniker: Drought-breaker.

Barty survived her toughest examination of the tournament to produce a Sunday night special, a 74-minute defeat of rising American star Amanda Anisimova, to reach a fourth-straight quarter-final at Melbourne Park – giving hope to those who have endured the 44-year-wait for a local Australian Open champion.

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The final scoreline of 6-4 6-3 did a disservice for Anisimova, who troubled Barty with her powerful baseline bombs, ended the world No.1’s incredible 63-game streak of holding serve and nearly matched the Australian winner-for-winner.

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Our Ash just keeps on keeping on.

In truth, it took Barty to dig on her best – which, Australian great Rod Laver this week said made her “unbeatable” and would allow her to “say something big” this week - to fend off one of the rising stars of the women’s game.

“He (Laver) was unbeatable. I’m certainly not,” the modest Barty said when reminded of the all-time tennis legend’s comments after the win.

“I’m just out here doing what I can, enjoying it and trying to make my opponent’s life as uncomfortable as possible.

“That’s my job ultimately, and do it with a smile, have some fun with it.

“Obviously (Laver) is an exceptional human being. He’s an amazing champion of our sport. He’s iconic. It’s just amazing to be in his presence.”

With her serving streak broken, the world No.1 dialled up the pain on her young opponent – firing down seven aces and her fastest serve of the tournament, a 182km/h bullet.

Amanda Anisimova tried her best, but the world No.1 was too good. Picture: AFP

“Honestly, I’m not counting how many games I hold in a row or not,” Barty said.

“The fact I was able to reset, break straight back, was really important .. to continue to do the right things.”

Unquestionably, Anisimova proved herself to be a top-10 talent this week, the former world No.21 eliminating two-time champion Naomi Osaka before pushing Barty to her limit.

But a blown overhead smash in the seventh game of the second set proved incredibly costly, triggering a double break as the 20-year-old fell to pieces and Barty sealed an impressive win.

It’s the third year in a row Barty has arrived at Melbourne Park as the top seed.

That alone brings with it a certain amount of added pressure – no women’s No.1 has lifted the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup since Serena Williams in 2015.

The great Rod Laver was courtside to cheer Barty on. Picture: Getty Images

Throw in Australia’s hoodoo at the event and it’s a giant gorilla on the back for one of Queensland’s finest ever.

But with each rapid-fire victory, Barty moves a step closer to becoming the first Australian women’s champion in Melbourne since Chris O’Neill in 1978.

She next faces another American, in 21st seed Jessica Pegula, for a chance at just her second Australian Open semi-final appearance.

After that, as Laver promised, she might be ready to say something big.

Barty hams it up with RLA crowd following her victory. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Ash Barty defeats Amanda Anisimova to book quarter-final berth