Australian Open day nine: Ash Barty v Petra Kvitová – live!

Updates from the quarter-final at Rod Laver ArenaAny thoughts? Email or tweet @mike_hytner 1.56am GMT Kenin, of the US, is through to her maiden grand slam semi-final, having just beaten Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 after an hour and 32 minutes in the first match of the day on Rod Laver. Kenin, the first woman through to the semis, will play the winner of Barty v Kvitová next. But the American 14th seed says she doesn’t care who she meets. “I’m in the semi-finals, at this point whoever I play they’re playing really well.” She’ll be watching on though. “I’ll watch it’ll be an exciting match.” 1.45am GMT With the nation’s recently-installed favourite athlete of all-time, Nick Kyrgios, now departed from the single’s draw, home hopes firmly rest on the shoulders of Ash Barty, a woman who genuinely has a lock on a place in Australian hearts. Today on Rod Laver Arena, the world No 1 faces her toughest challenge yet at this year’s tournament at Melbourne Park. Barty comes into this clash having won her last three matches against Petra Kvitová, but also with the memory of last year’s drubbing at the hands of the Czech at the same stage of the Australian Open lingering in the back of her mind. Of course, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then – including wins for Barty in Miami, Beijing and at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, not to mention a French Open triumph and her ascension to the summit of the rankings – and she should be quietly confident of going further than she has been before at this tournament by booking a spot in the semi-finals. Continue reading…
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