Why Ash Barty’s Australian Open quarterfinal is on so early

Ash Barty will play one of the biggest matches of her career in front of an empty stadium far away from television prime time.

Hopefully everything is back to normal by the time the semis roll around — and she makes it — but Ash Barty will play her Australian Open quarterfinal in relative obscurity on Wednesday morning.

The Australian world number one meets Czech 25th seed Karolina Muchova in the first game at Melbourne Park and is scheduled for an 11am start.

It’s far away from the prime time slot Barty is used to at her home grand slam but it’s standard scheduling in the second week of a major tournament.

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The women’s semi-finals are always held on Thursdays, leaving the top half of the draw with a one-day turnaround from their quarters.

So Barty’s match against Muchova and the all-American quarter between Jennifer Brady and Jessica Pegula — which is scheduled to start around 1pm — are being played early so the winners have maximum recovery time before meeting the following day.

It will also likely be Barty’s final game in an empty stadium after Melbourne’s snap five-day lockdown left supporters unable to attend matches from Saturday until Wednesday.

The lockdown is expected to lift on Wednesday and Barty has a golden opportunity to qualify for her first Australian Open final as the only player ranked inside the world’s top 20 in her half of the draw.

Barty declared Monday she’s “not done yet” after storming into the final eight to raise hopes of a first home winner in 43 years.

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Don’t miss Ash Barty’s match this morning. (Photo by Brandon MALONE / AFP)

The Australian’s defensive mastery flummoxed big-hitting Shelby Rogers in her 6-3 6-4 victory in one hour and 11 minutes in the fourth round at a crowdless Rod Laver Arena.

Barty, who is aiming to become the first Australian champion since Chris O’Neil in 1978, plays Muchova after the Czech beat 18th seed Elise Mertens 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

The 24-year-old reached the quarter-final of her home slam for the third straight year, but remained unsatisfied.

“We’re not done yet,” Barty said when asked how she felt about reaching the final eight.

“If we had looked at the way we were preparing during our pre-season, to have the start that we have had so far is really encouraging, but certainly not satisfied with where we’re at the moment.

“We will keep chipping away and keep trying to do the right things to progress as far as we can.”

Australian expectations are rising for Barty, whose side of the draw has opened up with the early exits of defending champion Sofia Kenin, world number five Elina Svitolina and world number six Karolina Pliskova.

Brady is the next highest seed in Barty’s bracket at 22. She, however, was wary of 24-year-old Muchova, who made an impression on her during their third round clash at the 2018 US Open which Barty won in straight sets.

“I remember that match in New York, coming off the court and saying to (coach Craig Tyzzer) … ‘Karolina, she can play, she’s a hell of a player’,” she said of her sole match against Muchova.

“I know she’s got the ability to manoeuvre the ball all around the court, play with variety, play with shape.”

Barty isn’t looking past Karolina Muchova. (Photo by David Gray / AFP)

The 2019 French Open champion, having not played last year after February due to the pandemic, is rounding into peak form and successfully became the “aggressor” against Rogers, who she nearly lost to last week in the Yarra Valley Classic quarter-finals.

Barty, who has been carrying a niggle to her heavily strapped left thigh, moved smoothly and counterattacked superbly to thwart the in-form American.

“It was important for me to serve well and try and bring it on my terms as often as possible,” she said.

“I think I have learnt a lot about myself over the past 12 months.

“I’m just extremely grateful that I’ve got another opportunity to do something that I love … on the biggest stage for us as Aussies playing tennis.”

– with AFP