Ash Barty smokes World No.1 Simona Halep in straight sets

Ash Barty has sent a message to the tennis world ahead of the Australian Open after destroying World No.1 Simona Halep in straight sets at the Sydney International.

Ash Barty celebrates after hitting a winner. Picture: Getty

“I fear no one.”

With that, Ashleigh Barty sounded a warning to the tennis world ahead of next week’s Australian Open.

Defeating world No.1 Simona Halep on Wednesday reinforced how rapidly Barty’s ascension is happening.

Halep may have been underdone after a long layoff, but even she conceded her opponent had improved markedly since their previous encounter last year.

Ash Barty celebrates after hitting a winner. Picture: Getty

Barty won the second-round clash 6-4 6-4 at Ken Rosewall Arena to move into the quarter-finals of the Sydney International, in a major confidence-booster ahead of her Melbourne Grand Slam campaign.

“I completely and 100 per cent respect Simona, she’s done amazing things in this sport, but I certainly fear no one,” Barty said.

“And I feel like I can go out there and match it with the world’s best.”

This was Barty’s first win over a world No.1, having failed in four previous attempts, two against Halep.

“Obviously very satisfying, I learned my lesson finally,” Barty said.

Simona Halep had no answers for Barty’s brilliance. Picture: AP

“I knew Sim would be a little bit rusty, being her first match of the year and first match in a while.

“The first time I played a world No. 1 was Serena [Williams] at the Australian Open. You don’t get much of a bigger occasion than that for a young Aussie.

“I have certainly learned over time how to deal with big matches better. Obviously playing on bigger courts more often, you get used to it. For me now it’s about going out there and just trying to play the other person on the net and not their reputation.”

Halep returned for her first full match in nearly four months, and while conceding that counted against her, also praised the resilient Barty.

Ash Barty at full stretch against Halep. Picture: AFP

“She played good tennis today, she always played well against me and all the matches were very tough,” Halep said.

“Today she was a little bit better than me because she had maybe 10 matches more than me in this year, so she was better prepared than me.”

Barty was broken on serve in both sets, and then bounced back to break Halep in the ensuing games to show renewed steel, while using her tricky sliced backhand to force Halep into error.

“It’s no secret anymore, I think a lot of girls know that when they are playing me I’m going to bring out the slice as much as possible, some more than others,’ Barty said.

“Against Simona it’s a big point of difference. It certainly doesn’t get me any free points, but it changes the tempo and allows me to control the point a little bit better.

“I dug myself into a little bit of a hole, but then was able to serve my way out of it and get forehands and give myself an opportunity.

“That game at 4-all in the second set, I was happy to just hit my slice over and over and try and wear her down a little bit.

Sam Stosur blew a one set lead at the Sydney international. Picture: AAP

“In tricky conditions, I gave myself in a lot of games. In my service games I got behind a lot but was able to kind of crawl back in. And in the return games, I actually returned quite well, didn’t miss too many and didn’t give her too many freebies.

Barty’s countrywoman Sam Stosur believes she can turn her form around for the Australian Open after suffering a second-round defeat in Sydney.

Stosur won the first set but was eventually defeated by Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 4-6 3-6 in blustery winds at Sydney Olympic Park, leaving the Australian frustrated after an impressive first-round victory against Dominika Cibulkova.

“It was a three-hour grind and a battle, it was just an awkward match,” Stosur said.

“At the end of the day, still two matches and one that I really had to try and really battle through.

“I tried what I could out there. It just wasn’t easy. Obviously I’d much rather be here tomorrow, but I guess two matches under my belt this week is not a bad thing heading into Melbourne.”

Wow!! Just love @ashbar96 ... what an amazing Aussie talent. Can’t wait to see her at the Aus Open, definitely reckon she can go all the way 💪🏽 #ausopen2019 #SydneyInternational

— Georgia Bennett-Murphy (@georgia_bm_) January 9, 2019

Ok so who would you rather watch in action, @ashbar96 and @alexdeminaur or Bernard Tomic and @NickKyrgios? Fantastic effort by Ash over the World Number 1 and the ‘Demon’ was persistent against big Reilly! The exhibition match? Meh! #SydneyInternational #KooyongClassic #GoAussies

— AussieSummerofTennis (@aussie_tennis) January 9, 2019

Go you good thing @ashbar96 !! What a performance!! You hung in there when it got tough but continued to play with freedom and aggression. Bring on Melbourne and the @AustralianOpen @SydneyTennis #servevolley #SydneyInternational #AshBarty @FortyDeuceTwits @BenRothenberg

— Jane Macdonald (@JaneSMacd) January 9, 2019

Ash Barty on fire to beat world no.1 Simona Halep!! What a legend! #SydneyInternational #tennis

— Jenny Munro (@JHMunro) January 9, 2019

I bloody love this lady 🎾 ...
gutsy, very talented ... did I mention gutsy & a winner over No 1 Halep

Big win & a genuine chance
... can play cricket 🏏 too#SydneyInternational pic.twitter.com/ZfXtuj2y4T

— Peter Bell (@PeterBell7) January 9, 2019

A fabulous win and beautiful tennis from Ash Barty to beat Simona Halep. An underdone world number one for sure, but a big confidence booster right there @SydneyTennis #SydneyInternational

— Louise Ransome (@LouRansomeFOX) January 9, 2019

Originally published as Ash Barty smokes World No.1 Simona Halep in straight sets