Ashleigh Barty cast friendship and determined early resistance aside to see off Maria Sakkari to reach her maiden Australian Open fourth round on Friday.
Only half a year separated the pair in age, but the Australian’s experience and composure under pressure proved vastly superior in a 7-5 6-1 victory under a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena.
It was not until after she had embraced her good friend at net that the 15th seed would allow herself to break into a broad grin as the ovation from her home crowd took hold.
“It’s an amazing sound in here when the roof is closed,” Barty said. “It’s absolutely phenomenal, to hear all the Aussies out here is just unbelievable.
“I think the lively conditions suit both of us so it took time to get used to how dead and slow it was in here.
“Maria’s a great friend of mine… so I’m extremely happy to get through in straight sets.”
With coach Craig Tyzzer bed-ridden all week due to illness, Barty was forced to rely on the stabilising influence of her Fed Cup captain, Alicia Molik, and childhood coach, Jim Joyce. The presence of Joyce in her player’s box evoked fond memories for the Queenslander.
“He's been an absolutely integral part of my tennis, taught me everything that I know,” Barty said. “Even now he can read me like a book out on the court. He can predict what's going to happen more times than not. He knows exactly what's going on.”
And if a further example of the modest 22-year-old’s class on and off the court was needed, stories of a young Barty donating childhood trophies back to Joyce’s club, the West Brisbane Tennis Centre, spoke volumes.
“A lot of my trophies were recycled for their junior fixtures and things like that,” Barty said. “All the ones that kind of, not didn't fit anymore, but Mum has a cabinet at home she keeps them all in, and it was kind of a bit of a tradition every year that we gave a few to Jim and Robby at West Brisbane Tennis Centre and they filtered through to the fixtures, with the young kids.”
Sakkari, making her fourth main draw appearance at Melbourne Park, was not without her chances or support in the crowd in the early stages of their third career meeting on Friday.
And after conceding a close opening set, there was momentary concern and a chance for the Greek world No.43 to emotionally reset when the Australian had treatment on her right hip flexor.
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But Sakkari – through lack of experience and having her heavy forehand nullified by the Australian’s variety – was unable to throw enough at Barty to test out the questionable hip.
The 15th-ranked Barty landed the luxury of a double break with an angled crosscourt forehand pass and quickly arrived at match point with her 13th ace.
A heavy forehand into the corner secured a fourth-round showdown with either defending champion Caroline Wozniacki or former champion Maria Sharapova.
Not even the televised showdown to determine her prospective opponent would drag her away from her second great love.
“I know they play later this afternoon,” she said. “I'll be home if it does happen to be raining and the cricket is not on, I will flick it over to that.”
Certainly no disrespect to whoever she plays next. It’s just that the 22-year-old already has her afternoon mapped out.
And the rain would have no bearing on it: “Ice bath, physio, coffee, then cricket.”