World No.1 Ash Barty’s top-10 rivals continue to fall as upsets reign at Adelaide International

Ash Barty’s rivals are dropping like flies at the Adelaide International as she seeks a strong start to the new season

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka made a shock exit from the Adelaide International on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

The decks are clearing in Adelaide for world No.1 Ash Barty.

After four top-10 stars withdrew on tournament eve, Barty’s two highest-ranked rivals – Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari – exited in surprising fashion on Wednesday.

Their second-round defeats followed two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka eliminating No.4 seed Paula Badosa on Tuesday night.

Slovenian Kaja Juvan knocked out Sabalenka, the world No.2, who double faulted to concede both sets – and hit an astonishing 18 in total – in losing 7-6(8-6) 6-1 after having a first-round bye.

Sabalenka’s last double fault barely made it halfway up the net to round out a flat performance from the tour’s biggest hitter.

Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan completed a major upset over Aryna Sabalenka in Adelaide on Wednesday. Picture: AFP

The Belarusian hasn’t entered next week’s Sydney Tennis Classic, where Barty and seven other top-10 members will finalise their Australian Open preparations.

It means Sabalenka won’t play again until the Melbourne Park grand slam unless she requests a Sydney wildcard.

“I felt like at the beginning it was happening pretty quickly,” Juvan said.

“I needed some time to adjust and sort of calm down. After a few games, I sort of felt like I got into it more. I really enjoyed the fight in the first set and I think she played really great.

“She made a few mistakes, but in general she didn’t give me too much. Then the second set was a little bit different – she was struggling with the serve.”

Aryna Sabalenka had a tough day on court against Kaja Juvan. Picture: AFP

Sixth-ranked Sakkari, who is playing in Sydney, was sprightlier than Sabalenka but fell away after a mid-match resurgence to bow out 7-6(7-5) 2-6 6-4 to American Shelby Rogers.

Rogers now goes on to play seven-seeded Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who accounted for qualifier Marie Bouzkova 6-3 6-4.

In the ATP 250 tournament, No.3 seed Marin Cilic avoided the carnage when he swept aside Brazilian Thiago Monteiro 6-4 7-6(7-3) to book his quarter-final spot.