Ash Barty one win away from her best grand slam result after charging into the third round

THE nation held its breath when Ashleigh Barty dropped the first set on Thursday night. But the worry was shortlived as the Aussie star called upon her renowned fighting qualities to stay alive.

Ashley Barty sends a forehand back in her win over Camila Giorgi. Picture: Michael Klein

AS the sun went down, Ash Barty only turned up the heat.

For the second time in three days she had to do it the hard way, but Barty is through to the third round of the Australian Open for the second successive year after overcoming Camila Giorgi 5-7 6-4 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena.

After copping an erant Viktor Troicki ball to the head late in Nick Kyrgios’ match on Hisense Arena the night before, umpire James Keothavong was back in the chair for a primetime game involving an Aussie.

Ashleigh Barty prevailed in a tight contest.

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But it was Barty who spared the host nation an even bigger headache by ensuring Australia has one female singles representative in the last 32 after Daria Gavrilova and Olivia Rogowska crashed out on Wednesday.

Not that it always appeared as if that was going to be the case.

Ranked No.71 compared to Barty’s No.17, Giorgi wasn’t tipped to cause the Australian any dramas on the big stage.

But the big-hitting Italian’s ranking belies her talent - she made the Sydney International semi-finals last week - and it showed during a first set in which she took hold of proceedings and forced Barty into retreat.

But, as she did against the shrieking Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday night, 21-year-old Barty found a way home, getting over some second set yips on serve to run out a commanding victor in the third.

“I was pretty happy with that in the end,” Barty said.

“To come away and run away with that third set was really nice.

“I knew it was going to be a tough match from the get go, so it’s good to get through.”

Barty recovered from a set down to advance to the third round.

Barty’s third round run last year heralded a stunning return to grand slam tennis.

But she has every chance of bettering that feat on Saturday when she takes on Japanese world No.72 Naomi Osaka.

Adding to the tumultuous nature of this side of the draw, Osaka knocked out Russian 16th seed Elena Vesnina in straight sets earlier in the Thursday heat.

And on the horizon awaits a potential fourth round match-up with world No.1 Simona Halep.

While the shade had provided the players some mercy from the sun, the temperature was still 38.7C when the match started shortly after 7pm and was hovering above 34C when it concluded 2hr2min later.

Where others had wilted, Queenslander Barty said she revelled in the furnace-like conditions.

“There was still plenty of heat in the court, which is what I like, it makes it more lively,” she said.

“I think you have to (back yourself in), there’s no other way to approach it.

“It’s tough for everyone, tough for Aussies. I probably have spent a little more time in it than most others, but for me it wasn’t an issue today.”