Ipswich tennis star Ash Barty has set up a showdown with World No.1 Simona Halep, with a comprehensive first-round victory at the Sydney International.
Confirming her status as an Open dark horse, Barty had too many guns for 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, swatting aside the Latvian 6-3 6-3, in one hour and 15 minutes yesterday.
Barty crunched five aces, dropped just four points after landing her first delivery and treated Ostapenko’s timid second serve with disdain, to break the World No.22 three times in a dominant display.
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She’s now set up a preview of the Australian Open, with the second round showdown against Halep.
(Image courtesy of www.sportingnews.com)
