Ashleigh Barty Extends Match-Winning Streak to 10 in Miami After Trouncing Aryna Sabalenka

It was the night of the quarterfinal at the Miami Open 2021 and World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty was up against World No. 8 Aryna Sabalenka. In a one-sided contest, it was Barty who roared throughout the match and won it. The final scoreline of the match was 6-4, 6(5)-7(7), 6-3. With this, the Australian player has also managed to earn a ticket to the semifinal.

Set-1: Aryna Sabalenka tried hard, but Ashleigh Barty was better

Serving first, Aryna Sabalenka didn’t face any issues and won the first game comfortably. However, Ashleigh Barty soon gained her momentum and equalized the scoreline in the next game. The one who served continued to win the game till the 8th game and the scoreline was 4-4.

Interestingly, Barty saved three break-points in the sixth game and managed to win that intriguing game with the help of a beautiful forehand winner. The Australian player broke in the 9th game to take the lead for the first time in the match. The scoreline became 5-4 in Barty’s favor at this point in time.

Set-2: Aryna Sabalenka wins a close tie-breaker

The World No. 1 player Barty earned a break-point in the first game of the second set, but Sabalenka survived it. With the help of an amazing serve, she rescued herself and took the early lead.

However, Barty was just not ready to lose any bit of her momentum. She struck back and leveled the scoreline at the end of the second game.

The story of the first set continued this time too, and the scoreline was soon 3-3. Even though Sabalenka earned a break-point in the sixth game, she failed to break yet again. However, she won the seventh game and took her lead to 4-3.

Sabalenka again gained three break-points in the subsequent game but failed to capitalize on all of them. Barty was surely performing well under pressure. She was now just two games away from cementing her place in the semis of the tournament.

Both the players fought quite hard and as a result, the set soon entered the tie-breaker after the scoreline became 6-6. It was now or never for Sabalenka, and she had to win it in order to stay in the match.

The Belarusian player began in style and managed to win the first point. However, the Australian struck back and won three back-to-back points. But Sabalenka didn’t give away the points this time and managed to win the tie-breaker 7-5.

Set-3: Barty wins the decider

Barty was the one serving, and she quickly wrapped up the first set. However, Sabalenka didn’t lose her form and returned brilliantly to equalize the scoreline. The same story continued yet again, and the one who served dominated the match. In this way, the scoreline soon became 3-3.

Stunningly, in the sixth game, Barty gained two break-points but failed to capitalize on them. However, she won four consecutive points in the next game and was now leading 4-3.

Interestingly, Barty broke in the subsequent game and was now just one game away from reaching the semis. She didn’t take long and finished it off in the next game, thus winning the set 6-3.