Ashleigh Barty will have one of her biggest fans across the net when Australia's great French Open hope continues her run in Paris early on Sunday morning (AEST).
The eighth-seed will play German campaigner Andrea Petkovic in the French Open third round, while a date with Serena Williams beckons beyond that.
Ash Barty in action against her opponent from the previous round, Danielle Collins.Credit:AP
Currently forecast to move up two spots to No.6, Barty could soar to as high as No.2 in the world if she wins the tournament.
Barty's rise – and her classical style – hasn't been lost on 31-year-old Petkovic.
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"I've found myself watching many of her matches [this year]," she said.
"I just love watching players that don't play same old, same old as we others all do.
"She's definitely one of my favourites."
The pair met at the Hopman Cup in 2012, when a 16-year-old Barty was first making herself known.
Since then Barty, now 23, has taken a well-documented break from the sport – playing professional cricket for a season – and returned to establish herself among the tennis elite.
"She was super young, just coming up and I hurt my knee," Petkovic recalled of her second-set retirement in their only previous encounter.
"I'm really looking forward to the match because I've been following her progression this year and just love her game.
"She plays beautifully and she's so talented and her story is so amazing."
Barty described the German as "tough as nails" as she reflected on their last meeting.
"It's a bit of a clean slate but she's an unbelievable competitor that has been around the block and has had such longevity in her career," Barty said.
Petkovic has battled into the third round with two tense wins, the second coming 4-6, 6-3, 8-6 against 25th seed Su-Wei Hsieh on Thursday.
Known for her unpredictable play, Petkovic said outlasting the tricky Taiwanese seed could help counter Barty's court craft.
"I had a few [backhand] slices [from Hsieh] today, so hopefully I'm ready for Ash's slice," she said.
Priscilla Hon's fighting Friday exit to last year's semi-finalist Madison Keys leaves Jordan Thompson as the only other Australian in the draw.
He will fly the flag against imposing eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro in a maiden grand slam third round appearance.
Having felled CroatiRead More – Source
Ashleigh Barty will have one of her biggest fans across the net when Australia's great French Open hope continues her run in Paris early on Sunday morning (AEST).
The eighth-seed will play German campaigner Andrea Petkovic in the French Open third round, while a date with Serena Williams beckons beyond that.
Ash Barty in action against her opponent from the previous round, Danielle Collins.Credit:AP
Currently forecast to move up two spots to No.6, Barty could soar to as high as No.2 in the world if she wins the tournament.
Barty's rise – and her classical style – hasn't been lost on 31-year-old Petkovic.
Advertisement
"I've found myself watching many of her matches [this year]," she said.
"I just love watching players that don't play same old, same old as we others all do.
"She's definitely one of my favourites."
The pair met at the Hopman Cup in 2012, when a 16-year-old Barty was first making herself known.
Since then Barty, now 23, has taken a well-documented break from the sport – playing professional cricket for a season – and returned to establish herself among the tennis elite.
"She was super young, just coming up and I hurt my knee," Petkovic recalled of her second-set retirement in their only previous encounter.
"I'm really looking forward to the match because I've been following her progression this year and just love her game.
"She plays beautifully and she's so talented and her story is so amazing."
Barty described the German as "tough as nails" as she reflected on their last meeting.
"It's a bit of a clean slate but she's an unbelievable competitor that has been around the block and has had such longevity in her career," Barty said.
Petkovic has battled into the third round with two tense wins, the second coming 4-6, 6-3, 8-6 against 25th seed Su-Wei Hsieh on Thursday.
Known for her unpredictable play, Petkovic said outlasting the tricky Taiwanese seed could help counter Barty's court craft.
"I had a few [backhand] slices [from Hsieh] today, so hopefully I'm ready for Ash's slice," she said.
Priscilla Hon's fighting Friday exit to last year's semi-finalist Madison Keys leaves Jordan Thompson as the only other Australian in the draw.
He will fly the flag against imposing eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro in a maiden grand slam third round appearance.
Having felled CroatiRead More – Source
