World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty won her second-round match at the Australian Open today. She beat her compatriot Daria Gavrilova 6-1 7-6 in a match that lasted over 90 minutes. Prior to today’s match, Barty and Gavrilova played each other on four occasions, with the World No. 1 winning three of those matches. 

After her win, Ashleigh praised the players on the women’s Tour and indicated that the level of tennis in the women’s game has risen. She stated that it’s important to step on the court with the highest quality as the competition has gotten intense.

No easy matches in any Grand Slam, says Ashleigh Barty

The World No. 1 player stated, “There are no easy matches in any tour of any slam. Every time you walk on the court you have to try and be able to bring you’re the best tennis to compete with everyone. That’s just the level there is on the women’s side. It’s something really exciting about women’s tennis now.

“Every single match, it’s a fair match. You go out there, you play hard and try and do the best you can.”

On the other hand, during the tournament today, the defending champion of last year’s Australian Open, Sofia Kenin, made an early exit from the tournament this season, after falling victim to Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi in straight sets, 6-3 6-2. Her opponent showed no remorse, hitting 22 winners as compared to Kenin’s 10. 

Kenin’s loss doesn’t affect me: Barty

Reflecting on the World No. 2 Sofia Kenin’s loss, Ashleigh stated, “It doesn’t affect me whatsoever, I’ve just been playing my match and controlling what I can from my end without being aware she was playing today. No disrespect to anyone, but I don’t look at the schedule except for when I’m scheduled to play.”

After registering a comfortable win, Barty will now play against Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in her third-round match at the Australian Open 2021. 

Also Read: “Couldn’t Really Handle the Pressure”: Tearful Sofia Kenin Reflects on Shocking Australian Open 2021 Exit