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World number one Ashleigh Barty dropped just two games in a resounding straight-sets defeat of British hopeful Harriet Dart at Wimbledon, as she easily moved through to the fourth round.
Key points:
- Ashleigh Barty won in under an hour to advance to the fourth round of the women's singles for the first time
- Barty will play the unseeded American Alison Riske in the fourth round
- Should Barty win in the last 16 she could potentially face Serena Williams in the quarter-finals
Barty, coming off her French Open victory last month, triumphed 6-1, 6-1 in 53 minutes on Centre Court, booking a place in the last 16 where she will meet the 55th-ranked American Alison Riske.
The result extends her winning streak to 15 matches, the last 10 without dropping a set, and it continues a year of firsts for the 23-year-old, as she had never reached the fourth round of the singles draw during her previous visits to the All England club.
"It was really good. I felt like I served really when I really needed to," Barty said.
"I tried to do as best as I could to get a quick start and then keep the ball rolling from there.
"I was able to overpower her just a touch, but it certainly wasn't a one-and-one scoreline.
"I said to Harriet 'this will become your favourite court in the world'. It's certainly mine."
Mixing mesmerising slices with exquisite drop shots, explosive forehand winners and 11 aces, Australia's relentless top seed wasted minimal energy or time in setting up a last-16 date on Monday with the unseeded Riske.
When asked about her shot selection post-match, Barty cracked up reporters in the press conference by quoting the song Under the Sea from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid.
"I think for me sometimes I look at a shot, I play a shot, I think the seaweed is always greener in someone else's lake," she said.
"I try and think of how else I can win the point.
"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."
Rod Laver impressed, Serena looms
Barty broke Dart in her first two service games to race to a 5-0 lead before pocketing the opening set with three booming aces.
There was no let-up from Barty in the second set, as she dropped just one more game in securing a commanding victory.
The 23-year-old received a standing ovation from Rod Laver and the rest of the Centre Court crowd after sealing her place in the fourth round for the first time in four visits.
"It's incredible to be here [on Centre Court]," Barty said.
"It's a first for me. I've had a taste of it in doubles, but really excited to be here in singles for the first time."
Victory over Riske would thrust Barty into a potentially mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with seven-time champion Serena Williams, who also advanced to the fourth round with a straight-sets win.
Runner-up last year to Angelique Kerber, Williams beat Barty's part-time doubles partner Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-4 and will play Spanish veteran Carla Suarez Navarro in her 16th appearance in the fourth round.
Earlier, the Wimbledon campaign of Barty's fellow Australian John Millman came to an end at the hands of former semi-finalist Sam Querrey.
Querrey defeated Millman 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-8), 6-3.
AAP/ABC
Topics: tennis, sport, united-kingdom, england
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