Golden opportunity goes begging for Barty in Open upset

World No 1 Ash Barty was heartbroken after a third shattering loss on home soil in 15 months but history shows she will bounce back.

World No 1 Ash Barty was frustrated at her inability to change wrest momentum from Karolina Muchova during her Australian Open quarter-final defeat on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Michael Klein

Ash Barty is heartbroken by a deflating Australian Open exit. So, too, a legion of fans desperate for her to be the one to break a local drought lasting 43 years.

It is indisputable Wednesday’s quarter-final loss to 25th seed Karolina Muchova, which ends a promising return to tennis this summer, will sting for some time.

A golden opportunity has gone begging and it is another 11 months, touch wood, until the Australian has a chance at redemption on the Melbourne Park courts she loves.

The world No 1 was clearly disappointed with the manner with which she let slip a match in her control when beaten 1-6 6-3 6-2 by a rival who played with conviction.

“It’s heartbreaking, of course. But will it deter me, will it ruin the fact we’ve had a really successful start to our season? Absolutely not,” she said.

In many regards Barty played a mirror image of herself. Muchova is athletic. She zipped slices, ripped forehands and clipped low volleys with distinction.

Muchova’s medical time-out when trailing 1-6 1-2 prompted an extreme shift in momentum.

There were plenty of Barty fans who complained about the tactic but any attempt to blame the defeat on Muchova’s break is a deflection.

Barty, certainly, was not buying the excuse with good reason. It is part and parcel of professional tennis. The Australian should have responded in better fashion.

What irritated the 2019 Roland Garros champion was her inability to harness anywhere near her best form once play resumed. The Queenslander is flaying herself.

There were two critical points, in particular, the Australian will rue given they occurred at a time she had the chance to halt Muchova’s momentum.

After fighting hard to hold a service game for 3-all in the second set, Barty had two opportunities to break the Czech in the following game.

Her returning throughout the Australian Open had been a feature until this point.

On the first point, she attempted to slice a backhand short in the court. This return has proven remarkably effective throughout the tournament. This time it clipped the top of the net.

Two points later, while on the defensive, Barty made her rival hit five consecutive smashes. Muchova’s final attempt barely cleared the net, but ultimately she drew an error from the Australian.

Should Barty have gambled? Potentially. But it was a near run thing.

“(I was) just disappointed with the fact that I wasn’t able to bring the match back on my terms after she took that break,” she said.

As the match continued, another of the Australian’s strength evaporated. Barty is a renowned problem solver. But perhaps due to some ring rust, her brain was befuddled.

Barty blasted when she should not have and was too timid when it was time to attack.

A shock loss can bewilder. It should not surprise, but the venomous critiques that flew in the immediate aftermath of Barty’s loss were as swift as they were off the mark.

This was her only chance? Please. There is a reason players and coaches, in any sport, take time away to assess a result. Perspective is important.

It is the third testing defeat the Australian champion has suffered on home soil in 15 months.

As heartbreaking as Wednesday’s loss was, it is doubtful it compares to the despair felt by Barty and the Australian Fed Cup team after they were edged by France in the 2019 final in Perth.

Yet the 24-year-old rebounded from that disappointment to win a maiden title on home soil in Adelaide last year and then reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the first time.

She had points to win both sets against Sofia Kenin. That, too, was deemed a bad loss. But then Kenin claimed the title and later reached the final of the French Open as well.

As bitter as defeat can be, all tennis players move on from losses quickly, even those that hurt greatly, with good reason.

The majority of tournaments they play end in defeat. This is true even for the greatest players in history.

Consider the example of Serena Williams, who plays Naomi Osaka on Thursday for a spot in the Australian Open final.

The American is the greatest player in the Open era and is two wins away from levelling Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles.

But she has also been beaten in 53 of the 76 grand slam tournaments she has played. Some of those losses have been demoralising. Yet Williams, who is 15 years older than the Australian, continues to bounce back.

Expect the same of Barty, who has now made at least the second week in her last seven appearances at a major. If she keeps presenting, as she vowed, more chances will come.

“We go back to work. Without a doubt it’s disappointing (but) we don’t let it ruin what has been a really successful, enjoyable start to a new season,” she said.