French Open 2019 | Rod Laver tips Ashleigh Barty to go all the way after fourth round romp

Ashleigh Barty has romped into the quarterfinals of the French Open as an Aussie legend delivers a hopeful prophecy.

Ash Barty is on a tear.

He’s one of the greatest players in tennis history and now Rod Laver has backed Ashleigh Barty to break Australia’s grand slam drought in Paris.

Barty cruised into her maiden French Open quarterfinal after crushing the run of unseeded American Sofia Kenin 6-3 3-6 6-0.

Kenin had destroyed Serena Williams’ hopes of winning at Roland Garros earlier in the week.

Barty is one of just three top 10 seeds left in the women’s draw and will play American Madison Keys in the next round.

Barty is set to move into the top five after the French Open, having never passed the second round of the competition before.

As she continues her run, hoping to become the first Australian singles player to win in Paris in 46 years, Barty may have some powerful support in her corner.

Three more wins to go.

Barty did become just the fourth Australian player to reach the French Open singles quarter finals since Margaret Court’s 1973 title — her fifth and last title in Paris.

In a what is hopefully a positive omen for the Aussie star, Barty had a photo with 11-time grand slam champion Rod Laver.

Laver was in town to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his unparalleled second calendar-year grand slam.

The great man posted a photo of their meeting.

Australia is behind you @ashbar96, Queensland gold! Good luck in your 4th round match @rolandgarros today. You can go all the way, no question. I’ll be cheering hard. So proud. Rocket. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/nMxKYj2WT3

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) June 3, 2019

Laver said it was amazing what Barty had accomplished.

“A couple of years back, she was a good doubles player and played some, you know, attractive singles,” he said.

“But something happened. She says, ‘I know how to win matches now’, and I think that’s what Barty has accomplished this year. I think it’s more confidence than anything else. With confidence, you can make anything happen.”

A Barty win would snap a 40-year lull in grand slams since Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s 1980 Wimbledon victory. Samantha Stosur’s 2011 US Open win was the only Australian women’s grand slam victory since then.

But Barty is in good company on Laver’s Twitter page with the other player he caught up while in Paris who was worthy for social media post being Rafael Nadal.

Nadal is an 11-time champion at Roland Garros and is the undisputed king of clay.

And like Barty, he’s dropped just one set on his way to the quarterfinals.

Great to catch up with @RafaelNadal before his 4th round @rolandgarros Good luck, mate! pic.twitter.com/ksCYOKKuGQ

— Rod Laver (@rodlaver) June 2, 2019

Laver said he thinks Novak Djokovic will edge Nadal for the title but pictures speak louder than words.

“You only have to win seven matches. That’s all you have to do,” Laver said. “You don’t have to win 128 of them. So therefore, your schedule and your competition, whoever is out there – yeah, I think someone like Rafa is going to be tough if Roger and those two meet. ‘I don’t know. I’m probably favouring Novak at the moment and then Rafa and then it goes down the line. Then it’s who’s going to play who.”

Barty’s quarterfinal win showed grit and poise on Monday to end the giant-killing run of Kenin

Barty overcame the disappointment of dropping her first set of the tournament to subdue her free-hitting but temperamental opponent in one-and-a-half-hours.

Barty prevailed over the 35th-ranked Kenin with 11 aces and 25 winners and advanced to her second straight grand slam quarterfinal.

It continues the huge return to tennis for the 23-year-old after moving away from the sport to play cricket in the Women’s Big Bash League.

“It’s my first time this week playing on this beautiful court and I just wanted to come out here and enjoy it,” Barty said. “It (playing cricket) was incredible, it made me more hungry to come back and have success in tennis.”

Sofia Kenin’s magic run was ended by Barty.

The 2019 French Open is live and on demand on Kayo Sports for just $25 per month for two devices at once on Apple, Android and Telstra TV, for Apple and Google Android smartphones, on web browsers and via Google Chromecast Ultra devices. Click here for your free trial.

Barty joins Wendy Turnbull (1979, 1980), Dianne Fromholtz (1979, 1980) and Fed Cup teammate Samantha Stosur (2009, 2010, 2012, 2016) as French Open quarter finalists since Court’s last win.

Aussie fans were right behind Barty’s continued rise at the tournament.

After not doing much on clay before this year, Ash Barty into the #RG19 quarterfinals, beating Sofia Kenin 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

Will face Madison Keys on Wednesday.

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 3, 2019

Fantastic Ash Barty. Best ambassador Australia has in world sport.

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) June 3, 2019

Yes Ash Barty @ashbar96 to the quarters she goes!! #goAussie #RolandGarros19

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) June 3, 2019

— with AAP