Spoiler:
Battle of the two Roland-Garros champions goes the way of the Australian READ MORE
BY KATE BATTERSBY
SOCIAL
In the build-up to her fourth round match against the No.1 seed, Barbora Krejcikova remarked how much she enjoys watching Ashleigh Barty play.
But that was before this first meeting between them, and the Czech may not have relished the view from the other end of the court quite so much.
Barty won through to her maiden Wimbledon quarter-final by severing the 15-match winning streak which had helped Krejcikova grab her first WTA title in Strasbourg and then the Roland-Garros crown. In a mighty tussle, the world No.1 recovered from an uncertain start to win 7-5, 6-3 in 95 minutes.
NO.1 COURT
LADIES' SINGLESFOURTH ROUND
AUS
A. BARTY
1
76
PTS12345
CZE
B. KREJCIKOVA
14
53
DURATION: 1:35COMPLETED
“That was a tough match – Barbora has had an incredible year,” said Barty. “I’m just happy to come through in the end. I found some pretty good stuff when I needed it most, which is great.
“I get my confidence from all the work that I do with my team behind the scenes and on the training court. This is the fun part, when I get to come out here and enjoy myself.
"As much as it’s frustrating at times, I love testing myself against the best in the world and there’s certainly no place I’d rather be at the moment.”
She means it, too, having committed herself to spending many months away from home this year, in order to avoid quarantine on her return to Australia.
Meanwhile, nothing alters that this has been a remarkable Wimbledon campaign for Krejcikova. Not only had she never played a main draw ladies' singles match here before, she had never played a main draw match on grass anywhere. The 25-year-old is of course an old hand in the doubles hereabouts, having lifted the 2018 title with Katerina Siniakova, whom Barty coincidentally saw off in the previous round.
“If somebody ask me before the tournament that I'm gonna be in the fourth round, I would just take it,” said Krejcikova philosophically.
“Ash is amazing. She knows how to play. She's No. 1. She's there for a reason. She belongs there. Ash is really good person, so at the end it hurts but it doesn't hurt that much, because she was just better today.”
Krejcikova certainly seemed to be feeling good as she strolled on court with an extravagant wave, by contrast with the Australian who haemorrhaged a tense break of serve almost at once. The Barty delivery has not been invulnerable here – Siniakova broke it just as the Australian was serving for their match, although it postponed defeat for just two games.
EYE ON THE BALL
AS MUCH AS IT’S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, I LOVE TESTING MYSELF AGAINST THE BEST IN THE WORLD
BARTY
But it was a flat start for her this time, under pressure and winning too few points on her second serve. Then, when Barty held for 3-4, Krejcikova’s errors started to become more than occasional, allowing her hard-working opponent to level. Barty was firmly in it, gradually dictating more and leaving Krejcikova nowhere to go.
By now Barty was so much in gear that for the opening three games of the second set she banked every point on her first serve. Fleetingly, skies darkened over the Centre Court. With a few drops of unexpected rain falling on the grass, Krejcikova sportingly checked that her opponent was happy to continue.
MATCH STATISTICS
AB BK
7 ACES 4
5 DOUBLE FAULTS 4
41/77 (53%) 1ST SERVE IN 49/72 (68%)
4/7 (57%) BREAK POINTS WON 2/10 (20%)
22 WINNERS 19
24 UNFORCED ERRORS 22
81 TOTAL POINTS WON 68
A game later she might have wished she herself had called a halt, when errors plagued her again and Barty broke; then, in a doughty skirmish to level it, Krejcikova got it back on serve with her fifth break point.
But in this battle of the Roland-Garros champions of 2019 and 2021, it was the earlier winner of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen who would not be bowed, forcing her way through again to serve for a place in the last eight. An unreturnable body serve brought up match point, and Barty served it out with her seventh ace.
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BY KATE BATTERSBY
SOCIAL
In the build-up to her fourth round match against the No.1 seed, Barbora Krejcikova remarked how much she enjoys watching Ashleigh Barty play.
But that was before this first meeting between them, and the Czech may not have relished the view from the other end of the court quite so much.
Barty won through to her maiden Wimbledon quarter-final by severing the 15-match winning streak which had helped Krejcikova grab her first WTA title in Strasbourg and then the Roland-Garros crown. In a mighty tussle, the world No.1 recovered from an uncertain start to win 7-5, 6-3 in 95 minutes.
NO.1 COURT
LADIES' SINGLESFOURTH ROUND
AUS
A. BARTY
1
76
PTS12345
CZE
B. KREJCIKOVA
14
53
DURATION: 1:35COMPLETED
“That was a tough match – Barbora has had an incredible year,” said Barty. “I’m just happy to come through in the end. I found some pretty good stuff when I needed it most, which is great.
“I get my confidence from all the work that I do with my team behind the scenes and on the training court. This is the fun part, when I get to come out here and enjoy myself.
"As much as it’s frustrating at times, I love testing myself against the best in the world and there’s certainly no place I’d rather be at the moment.”
She means it, too, having committed herself to spending many months away from home this year, in order to avoid quarantine on her return to Australia.
Meanwhile, nothing alters that this has been a remarkable Wimbledon campaign for Krejcikova. Not only had she never played a main draw ladies' singles match here before, she had never played a main draw match on grass anywhere. The 25-year-old is of course an old hand in the doubles hereabouts, having lifted the 2018 title with Katerina Siniakova, whom Barty coincidentally saw off in the previous round.
“If somebody ask me before the tournament that I'm gonna be in the fourth round, I would just take it,” said Krejcikova philosophically.
“Ash is amazing. She knows how to play. She's No. 1. She's there for a reason. She belongs there. Ash is really good person, so at the end it hurts but it doesn't hurt that much, because she was just better today.”
Krejcikova certainly seemed to be feeling good as she strolled on court with an extravagant wave, by contrast with the Australian who haemorrhaged a tense break of serve almost at once. The Barty delivery has not been invulnerable here – Siniakova broke it just as the Australian was serving for their match, although it postponed defeat for just two games.
EYE ON THE BALL
AS MUCH AS IT’S FRUSTRATING AT TIMES, I LOVE TESTING MYSELF AGAINST THE BEST IN THE WORLD
BARTY
But it was a flat start for her this time, under pressure and winning too few points on her second serve. Then, when Barty held for 3-4, Krejcikova’s errors started to become more than occasional, allowing her hard-working opponent to level. Barty was firmly in it, gradually dictating more and leaving Krejcikova nowhere to go.
By now Barty was so much in gear that for the opening three games of the second set she banked every point on her first serve. Fleetingly, skies darkened over the Centre Court. With a few drops of unexpected rain falling on the grass, Krejcikova sportingly checked that her opponent was happy to continue.
MATCH STATISTICS
AB BK
7 ACES 4
5 DOUBLE FAULTS 4
41/77 (53%) 1ST SERVE IN 49/72 (68%)
4/7 (57%) BREAK POINTS WON 2/10 (20%)
22 WINNERS 19
24 UNFORCED ERRORS 22
81 TOTAL POINTS WON 68
A game later she might have wished she herself had called a halt, when errors plagued her again and Barty broke; then, in a doughty skirmish to level it, Krejcikova got it back on serve with her fifth break point.
But in this battle of the Roland-Garros champions of 2019 and 2021, it was the earlier winner of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen who would not be bowed, forcing her way through again to serve for a place in the last eight. An unreturnable body serve brought up match point, and Barty served it out with her seventh ace.
Click here to join myWimbledon for a range of exclusive benefits, including access to tickets and the ability to personalise your digital experience with us.
Following along from home this year?
You can still experience the classic Wimbledon atmosphere on the Virtual Hill, presented by our Official Partner American Express.
Register now to visit and win daily prizes, including tickets to The Championships 2022.
