Barty eyes Australian Open second week

Flying on the court and blissfully content off it, Ashleigh Barty is daring to dream of a first-time appearance in the second week of a grand slam.

The last local hope in the Australian Open women’s draw takes on Japanese prodigy Naomi Osaka on Saturday for a coveted spot in the last 16 at Melbourne Park.

Barty’s opportunity comes a year after she arrived at her home major ranked 223rd in the world and still finding her feet again after 18 months out of the game and a stint playing professional cricket.

Now ranked 17th after a spectacular rise in 2017, the 21-year-old says she’s now found a perfect balance with a careful schedule to combat the homesickness that forced her off the tour after the 2014 US Open.

“Every person’s different and for me I just needed to step away and have that time, but I very much am a home body. That’s no secret,” Barty told AAP.

“I jump home at every single opportunity, whether it be for three days or 10 days. Whatever I can get, I make sure I get home.

“It’s been a big change for me but I’ve been able to do that.”

Barty says she “feels like a completely different person” than before her hiatus.

“I feel comfortable on and off the court, happy in my own skin, just really comfortable with the way I’m playing my tennis,” she said after repeating her first-round comeback win over Aryna Sabalenka with another three-set triumph over Italian aggressor Camila Giorgi.

So stunning has her revival been that – coupled with the first-week devastation of seeds in Melbourne – Barty is the seventh-highest-ranked player left in the last 32.

And after reaching the third round at successive slams for the first time, the Queenslander is intent on going even further.

“It would be amazing. It really would,” Barty said.

“I’ve been able to hang around long enough in these matches to put myself in a position where you can go out there on Saturday, have a red-hot crack and try to make my first fourth round.”

Osaka is playing her first major since ending an 18-month partnership with Australian coach David Taylor, the long-time former mentor of Barty’s Fed Cup teammate Samantha Stosur.

Like Stosur, the Japanese youngster’s game hinges on a big serve and forehand.

Or, as Barty points out, “another big hitter” like Giorgi, who she was able to wear down with her superior court craft.

“It’s not overly usual to have three matches very similar,” Barty said.

“Naomi is a great chick and can certainly give the ball a rip when she’s got time.

“But I’m very excited to be in the third round again, put myself in a position where I can go deeper in the tournament.”

The winner will play either world No.1 Simona Halep or American Lauren Davis for a quarter-final spot.

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