Australian doubles great Mark Woodforde believes this tournament presents Ash Barty’s best opportunity yet to win the Australian Open.
The two-time Grand Slam champion hasn’t dropped a set on her road to a quarter-final meeting with Jess Pegula on Tuesday night.
Barty accounted for unseeded American Amanda Anisimova 6-4 6-3 on Sunday night, in her most challenging tie to this point.
Woodforde, who won 17 Grand Slam doubles titles including four at Melbourne Park, can sense the growing confidence in the 25-year-old.
“Last night’s match was a huge step forward for Ash,” Woodforde told SEN Mornings.
“She now seems like she’s prepared to handle any adversity out there. A younger Ash - and we all go through this - when difficulties present themselves on the tennis court, it’s like a passing shot.
“Sometimes you panic and you either pull the trigger too soon or you’re just a little slow to react.
“Ash looks like she can handle all that is out there, and recognises that if she does go down, it’s because she’s forced the opponent to play at a high level.
While Barty was able to get past the 20-year-old American in straight sets, Woodforde believes the experience will hold her in good stead for when she faces better-ranked opposition.
The Queenslander dropped her Australian Open semi-final in 2020 to Sofia Kenin despite having had two set points in each of the sets played.
On Sunday, she was able to get herself out of a jam multiple times, as opposed to playing into one.
“That match last night, even though she won in two sets, was a lot closer (than it appeared),” Woodforde explained.
“It was tense, it was tight. 10 of the 19 service games had break points involved … (it was) three-all in both sets, and that’s when she was able to separate herself.”
In 2020 Barty sat out the French Open, where she was the reigning champion, and didn’t return to the tour until the lead-up to the 2021 Australian Open.
She was forced to retire at Roland-Garros but made a successful comeback at Wimbledon, and defeated Karolina Pliskova to claim her second Grand Slam title.
Woodforde believes that success will serve as a springboard for the prime of Barty’s career, not least in her home tournament.
“Winning Wimbledon, and all the nerves and the notoriety that come with being Wimbledon champion, that’s prepared her for this year’s Australian Open,” he explained.
“She’s going to have many more chances but this year is certainly a big one.”
Up until her meeting with Anisimova, Barty went on a tear of 63 straight service holds, and has won eight straight sets.
Woodforde says the Australian has complemented the improvement to her serve with a sense of calm, and can now hold her nerve in any situation.
“What separated her in the past was her variety in her game,” he explained.
“Her serve wasn’t a massive weapon but she could put it into the corner, and her backhand slice is one of the best shots in women’s tennis right now.
“It stays so low on her opponents, she can stay on the baseline, she can come forward.
“But in those big moments, she tended to waver a little bit. Now, I don’t think those thoughts even enter her psyche.
“It was interesting last night to see her use her serve, the tactics of trying to place that serve into an (area of) weakness for Anisimova.
“And then using the backhand slice… it’s all coming together, and there’s a confidence. It’s like a jigsaw, her confidence right now is just riding on a high.
“Because she’s playing at home, she’s ultra-comfortable out there and that is setting her apart.”
Barty will face Pegula at Rod Laver Arena from 7pm on Tuesday night.