Battle of the Aussies as Ash Barty takes on Daria Gavrilova in a ‘ripper’ match

Battle of the Aussies as Ash Barty takes on Daria Gavrilova in a ‘ripper’ match – hours after bad boy Nick Kyrgios thrilled the nation with a five-set nail-biter

  • Top seed Ash Barty will take on Daria Gavrilova in the second round of the Open 
  • Daria Gavrilova is on the comeback trail after some serious foot injuries 
  • Barty said she was looking forward to playing against her Fed Cup teammate 

Top seed Ash Barty hopes to continue her successful Australian Open run as she takes to the court to go up against fellow Aussie Daria Gavrilova.   

Barty said she was looking forward to getting on court against her Fed Cup teammate, predicting it would be a ‘ripper’.

‘It will be a challenge,’ Barty said.

Top seed Ash Barty (pictured) will be out to end another Australian’s run when she takes on Daria Gavrilova in the second round of the Open on Thursday afternoon

Daria Gavrilova is on the comeback trail after some serious foot issues. Pictured on Thursday before her second round match against Barty

Daria Gavrilova is on the comeback trail after some serious foot issues. Pictured on Thursday before her second round match against Barty 

‘I’ll enjoy it – I always enjoy testing myself against other Aussies.’

Gavrilova, on the comeback trail after some serious foot issues, will be determined to eclipse Danka Kovinic, who won just 10 points in her second round 6-0 6-0 clash with Barty. 

Barty, 24, took a year off from tennis in 2020 amid the pandemic, and instead spent time with her dogs and playing golf.

Her comeback has been one for the books, dropping just 10 points in her first round match against Danka Kovinic at Melbourne Park.  

Barty and Gavrilova lead a charge of seven Australians in singles action on Thursday including Thanasi Kokkinakis, Samantha Stosur, Alex de Minaur, Chris O’Connell and Alexei Popyrin.

Stosur, who on Tuesday enjoyed her first singles win at Melbourne Park since 2015, takes on American Jessica Pegula.

Defending champion and fourth seed Sofia Kenin will meet Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, who won the only previous match, on Margaret Court Arena, following Swiss 11th seed Belinda Bencic and Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia.

Sixth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova and Danielle Collins are first up on Rod Laver Arena, followed by Barty and Gavrilova.

American 16-year-old Coco Gauff takes on the fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist

Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, continues his quest for a men’s record 21st major title with a second-round match against American Michael Mmoh in the night session.

Barty said she was looking forward to getting on court against her Fed Cup teammate, predicting it would be a 'ripper'

Barty said she was looking forward to getting on court against her Fed Cup teammate, predicting it would be a ‘ripper’

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