Barty party on in Melbourne; Kerber out; Nadal relentless

MELBOURNE, Australia – It was like a party at Rod Laver Arena. A partisan crowd backed Ash Barty, booed Maria Sharapova and celebrated wildly when the first Australian woman in a decade reached the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park.

Rod Laver was there watching, among the tennis greats. Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his green Aussie cap was cheering from the side of the court. It was in vogue for Aussies to be watching. Anna Wintour, too.

It took four match points and two hours, 22 minutes before Barty fended off 2008 champion Sharapova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, reaching the quarterfinals of a major for the first time. She’s the first Australian woman since Jelena Dokic to reach the last eight at the home Grand Slam tournament. No Aussie woman has won it in 41 years.

“It’s amazing that it’s ... happening in Australia,’’ Barty said, reflecting on her first goal for 2019. “I have given myself the opportunity and the chance to play in front of the best crowd in the world on one of the best courts in the world and in my home Slam. There is absolutely nothing better.’’

She’ll next play two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who defeated 17-year-old American Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-1 in 59 minutes to return to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time in seven years.

Another former No. 1 and former Australian titlist quickly followed Sharapova out when Danielle Collins upset three-time major winner Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-2.

Collins had never won a match at a Grand Slam before coming to Australia – now she’s won four straight and eliminated No. 14 Julia Goerges, No. 19 Caroline Garcia and No. 2 Kerber along the way. She’ll face either 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals.

Sharapova won the first set but was struggling with her serve, and finished with 10 double-faults in the match. After dropping the second set – midway through Barty’s nine-game winning streak – Sharapova took an extended break in the locker room and was booed when she came back to court. That’s a rarity for the five-time Grand Slam winner in these parts.

A comeback was always on the cards, and Sharapova nearly delivered – recovering from 4-0 down in the deciding set, forcing Barty to serve it out, and saving three match points when she did.

Two seasons back from her break to pursue a career in cricket, Barty has become Australia’s best chance of producing a local champion since 1978. In men’s action, Rafael Nadal routed Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-1 7-6(4) in a center court masterclass to charge into the quarter-finals.

The 2009 champion was relentless at Rod Laver Arena, claiming the first two sets in an astonishing 51 minutes and firing 32 winners past the hapless Czech to reach the last eight at Melbourne Park for the 11th time.