Which came first, the confidence or the mind-blowing stats? In Ash Barty’s case, everything seems to be coming at once. On Wednesday in Madrid, the world No.1 (currently in her 74th week at No.1 in the WTA rankings, and 67th in succession) notched her tenth consecutive win over a Top 20 player and earned her ninth straight win in a deciding third set.
Update: Barty defeated Paula Badosa to reach the final on Thursday in Madrid.
Barty, who defeated Petra Kvitova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 on Wednesday has now won 11 of 12 deciders in 2021, and has won 58 and lost 20 third sets in her career.
Tennis Now asked the Aussie how she has managed to be so effective in third sets this year during her post-match press conference via zoom.
“For me, I feel like it's just always staying in the fight, always staying in the hunt and never letting it slide away,” she said. “That certainly doesn't guarantee results, doesn't guarantee success. It guarantees you give yourself the best chance to do what you do and to figure it out and to find your way.”
Barty says that her generally calm nature has worked in her favor in that sense.
“I think it's important not to panic, but I think everyone emotionally has different ways that they play on the court,” Barty said. “I have always been quite calm on the court. That's just always been my demeanor. But for me it's more about just trusting myself and knowing that we just keep chipping away and trying to find a way and then give yourself time to do that.”
The 25-year-old, who will face Spain’s Paula Badosa in semifinal action on Thursday in Madrid, also talked about her record against the Top 10 of late. Impressively, she has won all six matches she has played against the Top 10 in 2021.
“I think without a doubt you need an element of luck,” she said. “You need things to go your way. But you also need to approach it with the right attitude and kind of be able to execute on that day.”
Barty’s Last 10 against Top 20
• Yarra Valley Classic Final, d. No 15 Muguruza, 7-6(3), 6-4
• Miami round of 16, d. No 15 Azarenka, 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
• Miami quarter-final, d. No 8 Sabalenka, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3
• Miami semi-final, d. No 5 Svitolina, 6-3, 6-3
• Miami final, d. No 8 Andreescu, 6-3 4-0 RET
• Stuttgart quarter-final, d. No 9 Pliskova, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5
• Stuttgart semi-final, d. No 5 Svitolina, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2
• Stuttgart final, d. No 7 Sabalenka 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
• Madrid round of 16, d. No 17 Swiatek 7-5, 6-4
• Madrid quarter-final, d. No 12 Kvitova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
"I feel like no doubt when you play the best in the world, you have to bring your best level to be able to compete, and I really enjoy that challenge in tennis is testing myself against the very best in the world. I know that I have to play an exceptional level of tennis to be competitive. I think that challenge in itself really excites me.”