Ash Barty just kept fighting and fighting to progress to Cincinnati Open quarters

Despite being “miles away” from her French Open-winning level, Ash Barty showed “exactly the fight you want to see” to pull off a miracle.

Ash Barty. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP

Ashleigh Barty has rallied from a set down to edge past Estonian Anett Kontaveit and book her place in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Open.

The top-seeded Australian clinched a battling victory with a deep forehand winner and raised her right fist in triumph after fighting off match point and outlasting Kontaveit in two hours and 10 minutes.

Crazy.

Barty comes back from a break down in the 2nd and 3-5 down in the 3rd to beat Kontaveit 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Total panic from Anett when she had a lead.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 15, 2019

In the process, Barty struck 31 winners and nine aces, breaking Kontaveit six times French Open champion Barty, currently ranked second, can reclaim the world top spot by reaching the tournament final in the US Open warm-up event in Ohio.

We came here to Barty. Picture: Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP

“It was a little bit scrappy at times today but proud of the way we were able to fight and hang in there right until the end,” said the reigning Roland Garros champion.

“Ultimately that was the most important part about today was to try to hang in there as best that I can, fight right until the end and try and make a match of it.

“Towards the end, I started to find a little bit more rhythm but certainly struggled early on. It was more about the fight today than the tennis.”

Ash Barty gets a great 4-6 7-5 7-5 win over Anett Kontaveit from 3-5 down in the third set.

That fight is exactly what you want to see from a top seed.

— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) August 15, 2019

yep.

Barty is miles away from her RG-Birmingham level.

But found a way to win today, which is great for her.

Still fighting to end the week as #1. Needs to reach the final to have a chance. https://t.co/HmcK8WeGV2

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 15, 2019

Into the last eight in Cincinnati for the first time, Barty — who fought past Maria Sharapova in her opener — will play Greece’s Maria Sakkari after she dispatched Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (7-4) 6-4 6-4 to advance.

Venus Williams also rallied from a set down to prevail a 2-6 6-3 6-3 winner against Croatia’s Donna Vekic.

Third seed Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic is also through, beating Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson 7-5 6-4.