The moment that stunned a raucous Australian Open crowd: Ash Barty’s best friend starts shaking during emotional interview
- Barty’s best friend Casey Dellacqua started shaking during emotional interview
- World number one had just seen off Polono Hercog 6-1, 6-4 in Australian Open
- ‘I don’t know why I’m shaking talking bit I’m really proud of you,’ Dellacqua said
- Barty’s ex-doubles partner seemed to stumble over words after emotional scene
Ash Barty’s best friend Casey Dellacqua started shaking during an emotional interview with the Australian tennis star as she swept into the Australian Open third round.
Barty was interviewed by her former doubles partner on court on Wednesday after seeing off big-hitting world No.48 Polona Hercog 6-1 6-4.
Dellacqua joked she would have to be professional while interviewing her close friend, before admitting to being slightly overwhelmed in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena.
Ash Barty’s best friend Casey Dellacqua started shaking during an emotional interview with the Australian tennis star
‘So much has changed for you, obviously but you haven’t changed. You’re still the same Ash,’ Dellacqua said.
‘I don’t know why I’m shaking talking but I’m really proud of you.’
The presenter then appeared to stumble over her words slightly as she changed topic to Barty’s home decoration plans.
‘You’re still the same …except you look on Pinterest a little bit more looking for more house options for the new house that you are building,’ Dellacqua said.
The interview came on the back of top-seeded Barty needing barely an hour to see off big-hitting world No.48 Polona Hercog 6-1 6-4 on Wednesday.
Unlike Monday night when she dropped the first set against Lesia Tsurenko, a switched on Barty dominated the opener in windy conditions on Rod Laver Arena, twice breaking Hercog’s serve.
Dellacqua hugged her friend and former doubles partner before joking she would have to be professional while interviewing someone so close to her
Dellacqua gushed ‘so much has changed for you obviously, but you haven’t changed. You’re still the same Ash’
The Slovenian put up more of a fight in the second, forcing Barty to hold from double-break-point down in the eighth game .
The world No.1 then gained a decisive third service break the very next game before closing out the contest, again from 15-40, in 66 minutes with four straight clutch first serves.
‘It’s been another clean match today and very happy to get out of that one,’ Barty said.
Barty had just seen off big-hitting world No.48 Polona Hercog 6-1 6-4 before being interviewed by Dellacqua
‘It was different, end to end. The wind played a factor, particularly with the new balls.
‘Polona has the ability to play off the court. It was about making as many balls as I could and, once I got my opportunity, I could take it.’
Barty next plays in-form Kazakh Elena Rybakina, a winner of this month’s Hobart International, or Belgian qualifier Greet Minnen on Friday for a place in the last sixteen.