Australian wildcard Ashleigh Barty has withdrawn from Hobart International qualifying with right shoulder soreness.
It follows a hard-fought 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 win over fourth-seeded American Nicole Gibbs in just over two hours in second round qualifying action on Centre Court today.
The No.88-ranked American started strongly, dominating on serve and dictating play. Barty kept fighting and eventually began to wear her opponent down.
“We just wanted to be more aggressive and assertive on court,” Barty explained of how she swung the momentum during the match. “I picked up a clicks on the forehand especially to try and take control of most points.”
Even in the third set when Gibbs raced ahead 3-1, Barty again found the answers.
“Towards the second and the third, we both had a few opportunities and I was able to take mine, so it’s pleasing to come out on top in a match like that,” Barty said.
It was the third top-100 victory for Barty, as well as the highest-ranked opponent she has beaten, in her comeback from a brief foray into professional cricket.
“It’s nice to tick off another top-100 win coming into the first Grand Slam of the year,” Barty said.
The 20-year-old Australian was set to face Japan’s Risa Ozaki, the world No.100 who scored a comprehensive 6-0 6-2 win over Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round. The sixth-seeded Ozaki only lost 13 points on serve in the 57-minute match.
After her win Barty told tournament officials she was withdrawing from singles qualifying. She still plans to continue in the doubles competition.
Fellow Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska’s qualifying hopes were dashed with a 7-6(6) 6-0 loss to American Sachia Vickery.
Other winners today included; seventh seed Mandy Minella of Luxembourg who defeated Czech Tereza Martincova 7-6(2) 6-2 and Brazilian Teliana Pereira who was too strong for Dutchwoman Cindy Burger.
Croatian Jana Fett eliminated Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-3 6-3, while Paraguayan Veronica Cepede Royg won a marathon 7-6(5) 2-6 6-3 clash against Austrian Barbara Haas. Belgian Elise Mertens swept through her match in 43 minutes, beating Hungarian Dalma Galfi 6-1 6-1.