Top seed Barty moves into Australian Open fourth round

World amount 1 Ashleigh Barty overcame a jittery beginning to defeat in-make Elena Rybakina 6-3 6-2 and attain the Australian Open fourth spherical.

Dwelling favourite Barty turned into broken in her first two provider games, but broke back on both instances earlier than breaking again within the sixth sport of the first location.

Kazakh Rybakina, the champion in Hobart closing week, transformed greatest two from 10 destroy aspects.

Barty will now face Alison Riske or her doubles associate Julia Gorges.

“It turned into a in actuality anxious one,” the 23-year-veteran stated. “I felt care for I wanted to be switched on. Among the games had been lengthy. Or no longer it’s doubtlessly basically the most efficient I completed this summer season to this level.

“Or no longer it’s good to have one other likelihood to come again out and revel in it. I’m loving every minute.”

Last year’s beaten finalist,Petra Kvitova, conveniently seen off Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1 6-2 and the Czech will subsequent play Madison Keys or Maria Sakkari.

• Live scores, schedule and results
• Indicators: Bag tennis news despatched to your mobile telephone