Ashleigh Barty beats Harriet Dart to advance to Wimbledon’s fourth round

In her first singles appearance on centre court, Australia’s world number one shines.

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty pumps her fist during her straight sets victory over Harriet Dart in Wimbledon’s third round. Picture: AP

Ash Barty has won over a legion of global sports stars who witnessed her ruthless straight sets filleting of British wildcard Harriet Dart at Wimbledon to progress through to the second week and fourth round of the Championship.

The world number one showed no nerves nor hesitancy on the packed centre court, playing before a legion of sports stars as she notched a supremely comfortable 6-1, 6-1 triumph.

It was always to be expected that the Australians in the royal box — Rod Laver, who won the Wimbledon men’s singles half a century ago and the England rugby union coach Eddie Jones — were right behind Barty from the get go.

But as soon as Barty raced to a first set advantage with a calm showcase of her lethal backhand slice and serves clocking 190km/h, other sports stars honoured with a place in the box — such distance runner Seb Coe, England football manager Gareth Southgate, boxing champion David Haye and England cricket captain Joe Root — were seen appreciating Barty’s brutal taking down of Dart.

Electrifying from the world No.1 ⚡️@ashbar96 is the first Australian woman to reach the fourth round at #Wimbledon since 2010, beating Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes pic.twitter.com/YpX0MzWhGs

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2019

Only once was Barty truly tested when, in the sixth game of the second set, she defended four break points. Barty had to bring her big serve and gave a glimpse of the fighting spirit she will have to deploy in the next rounds.

The 23-year-old Australian has now eclipsed her first challenge here: to improve on last year’s Wimbledon third round appearance.

“I think I got better as it went on, which was really pleasing. It was really important for me to get out of that 4-1 game from love-40. In that stretch of seven or eight points after that, I played some of my best tennis. I was in control of those points,” Barty said.

“I think the best thing is that I didn’t let up the whole match. I kept the foot down and I was able to stay in control of most games.”

Australia’s Ash Barty, right, shakes hands with Britain’s Harriet Dart following her third round victory at Wimbledon. Picture: AP

Barty said she approached each match like a puzzle, working out the best shot to play at a particular time, and on occasion, favouring her backhand slice.

“Sometimes I look at a shot, I play a shot, I think the seaweed is always greener in someone else’s lake. I try and think of how else I can win the point,” she said.

Ash Barty attacks with the forehand against Harriet Dart. Picture: AFP

“Really, I just need to go about it, be really simple, make up my mind, pick my spot, hit it and try and bring a very simple mindset and have this real clarity around how I want to play, but also knowing I have the ability to adapt and play a different shot if I need to.”

Barty was snubbed for the centre court matches earlier in the tournament, despite being world number one. Today, the BBC also gave her short shrift, failing to broadcast her comments immediately after her victory, preferring to cross to Serena Williams playing on court one.

Barty was pleased to have got off to a strong start and not allow Dart any sniff of encouragement.

She has now set up a Monday appearance against world number 55 Alison Riske, of the United States.

Riske earlier caused an upset beating the Swiss 13th seed, Belinda Bencic, in three sets.