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Ashleigh Barty
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Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Top favorite Ashleigh Barty has reached the quarterfinals at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year in her native Australia.
The world number one defeated the in-form American Amanda Anisimova 6: 4, 6: 3 in Melbourne.
Barty is still without dropping a set and before the match against Jessica Pegula (USA) nourishes the hopes of the first home win since 1978. At that time Chris O'Neil had won the Australian Open
Barty's best result at her home Grand Slam so far is the semi-finals in 2020, last year she was eliminated in the round of the top eight players after a flawless tournament so far.
This year, the 25-year-old is once again marching through the tournament without much resistance, so far she has only given up 15 games in four matches.
But a series broke against Animisova.
Since the preparatory tournament in Adelaide and now in four rounds of the Australian Open, Barty had won 63 service games in a row.
The unseeded American managed a break at the beginning of the second set, but this only lasted for a short time.
Barty quickly regained her consistency on serve and returned strongly.
Barty is again the clear favorite against Pegula in the quarterfinals.
Anisimova had established herself as the secret favorite after winning the pre-season tournament in Melbourne and beating former number one Naomi Osaka (Japan) in the previous round.
The 20-year-old has been considered a great talent for years, and this year she seems ready to confirm that.
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