World number one Ash Barty firmed as favourite for the Australian Open title when she breezed past Camila Giorgi in the third round just as reigning champion Naomi Osaka was being dethroned by Amanda Anisimova.
Naomi Osaka Photo: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic
Barty's potential fourth round matchup against Osaka had been the talk of Melbourne Park since the draw was made but Anisimova tore up the script with a stunning victory on Margaret Court Arena.
The soft spoken and self-confessed introvert declared at the start of the 2022 season that she was looking to have more fun on court and enjoy playing the sport.
"I would definitely say I'm proud of myself for this," the Japanese player said. "Though to me it didn't feel like a short amount of time. It felt like ages ago.
"This for me is the biggest step. Even though I lost. I was really focused throughout the entire match, and I didn't have a dip. So that's really good. Hopefully as the season continues, I'll be able to keep this up, and get even better at it."
Some half an hour earlier on the neighbouring Rod Laver Arena, Barty had completed a clinical 6-2 6-3 victory over Italian Giorgi to sweep into the second week of the championships.
"It shows how often the draw pans out like you guys think, hey?," said Barty.
"I would have loved to have had the opportunity to play Naomi. I love to test myself against the very best (but) Amanda has played a fantastic tournament. She deserves her spot in the round of 16. I think the match we will play will be exciting."
Barty, who is aiming to end Australia's 44-year wait for a homegrown champion, had lost only three games in her first two matches and continued that dominant form with an early break of the 30th seed's serve.
Giorgi can be a tricky opponent if she is allowed to get into her stride and Barty was 40-0 down in the sixth game of the set as the Italian threatened to break back.
The Wimbledon champion saved all three break points, won the game with an ace and then proceeded to break Giorgi again to seal the opening set.
A break for 4-2 put Barty in charge of the second set and three games later she was bathing in an ovation from the centre court crowd having secured her place in the last 16 at Melbourne Park for the fourth straight year.
"I thought tonight was really clean, I looked after my service games really well," said Barty.
"I was able to keep the momentum going, make returns when it mattered most at the important moments, pretty good performance I think."
Barty had obviously given plenty of consideration to the idea that she might be playing American Anisimova, who she beat in the French Open semi-finals on her way to winning her first Grand Slam crown in 2019.
"It will be nice to play each other again in a big match," said Barty.
"It feels like it's a lifetime ago, but some of those memories are still really vivid. Without a doubt we will take that and use that experience, use those feelings and those emotions as best we can come Sunday."
In the men's draw Alexander Zverev admitted he had been far from perfect but still eased into the fourth round without dropping a set after a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Radu Albot of Romania.
Sixth seed Rafa Nadal dropped his first set at this year's tournament but still powered through to the fourth round with a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-1 defeat of Karen Khachanov of Russia.
-Reuters
