By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday September 2, 2021
Ashleigh Barty took care of business once again, defeating Denmark's Clara Tauson in straight sets.
Photo Source: Getty
The Barty Party at the Grand Slams rolls on. Two-time major champion Ashleigh Barty strolled into the third round on Thursday in New York, taking out Danish teen Clara Tauson, the World No.78, 6-1, 7-5 in 90 minutes.
It was a solid performance from the World No.1, as she raced out out the starter gate, rocking forehands and taking Tauson out of rhythm with her backhand slice. The Aussie had a 5-0 lead, but Tauson got her wake up call and produced some very impressive tennis after she got on the board in set one.
Barty said the backhand slice was one of the biggest keys to her success against the rising talent.
“I knew the slice would be effective today so that was a tactic of mine to bring in the slices as much as possible,” she said. “Yeah, I mean, it was a game plan and I wanted to execute and it worked well. I know that it doesn't work every single time I hit the slice, but over time that repetitive motion for my opponent having to get down, these balls are not easy to control. I think me being able to control the tempo with my slice was one thing I wanted to use today.”
Of course it was too late to make an impact on the opener, but Tauson, who won her maiden title at Lyon earlier this season and who had most recently taken a 125 title in Chicago, played some aggressive tennis and knocked off some pretty forehand volleys to give Barty trouble. She eventually broke through with Barty serving for the match at 5-4, but couldn’t capitalize on her momentum an ended up dropping the next two games.
Barty moves on to face either Shelby Rogers or Sorana Cirstea in the third round.
“Today was tricky I think to navigate through that second set and just trust myself and hit out,” Barty said. “But all in all happy to be moving through to the third round with some work to do but we are pleased to be able to go through and get another opportunity.”