Ash Barty warming to task with conditions to suit at US Open

The forecast for steamy conditions is set to play in the hands of world No 2 Ashleigh Barty.

Ash Barty hits a forehand to Lauren Davis during their second-round match at the US Open in New York. Picture: AP

The arrival in New York of the steamy conditions that turn the US Open into an intense physical test could be timed perfectly for Ash Barty.

The Queenslander has battled for her best form through her opening two rounds so far in the BIg Apple, a trend that has carried through the entire North American swing.

But the world No 2 has continued to find a path to victory and remains on track for what would be a blockbuster fourth-round appearance against American superstar Serena Williams.

And the warmer, more humid conditions predicted to hit New York today will appeal to the 23-year-old, and not solely because she is used to similar weather in Brisbane.

The warmer the conditions, the livelier the courts become, which in turn will help Barty get more bang for her buck when it comes to her big-spinning shots.

As the Roland Garros champion said after a 6-2 7-6 (2) over American Lauren Davis in a match played inside Louis Armstrong Stadium, the warmer the weather, the faster the courts, the better her hopes.

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It is an observation Roger Federer also made after his victory over Damir Dzumhur and Barty was happy to back the opinion of the Swiss master.

“I mean, Roger is probably the best one with the best feel in the world. He’ll tell you how it is, and he’s not wrong often,” she said.

“It is pretty slow. I think at night, that’s magnified even more. Especially when it’s raining, it’s heavy.

“All of those things are magnified a little bit more. With the roof closed, it makes it a little bit more difficult.

“Obviously there’s not the heat in the court, the sun coming off the court, where you can really kind of get it to respond.

“It’s a little bit more dead, a little bit more sterile, which makes it a little bit more difficult to manoeuvre the ball at times.”

Barty awaits the winner of a clash between Maria Sakkari and Shuai Peng.

The Australian has won three of her four matches against the talented Greek, including a recent three-set triumph in Cincinnati a fortnight ago.

She faced Peng either side of her sabbatical from the sport, falling to her on clay in Strasbourg in 2014 before an easy victory in Nottingham on grass in 2016.

Williams survived a test of her own against US Open debutante Caty McNally before progressing 5-7 6-3 6-1.

Meanwhile, Alex De Minaur won the opening game in his clash with Cristian Garin but that was all as persistent rain forced the postponement of matches on outdoor courts.

Joining the 20-year-old on court today are Jordan Thompson, who plays 24th seed Matteo Berrettini, Alexei Popyrin, who is pitted against Mikhail Kukushkin and Nick Kyrgios faces Antoine Hoang

Thanasi Kokkinakis will play Spanish legend Rafael Nadal around 11am AEST on Arthur Ashe Arena.

Ajla Tomljanovic will seek to join Barty in the third round when she plays Estonian 23-year-old Anett Kontaveit, seeded 21 at this event.