World primary Ashleigh Barty conceded she was braced for a tricky battle with “extraordinarily harmful” US teenager Coco Gauff after both advanced to a last-eight showdown at the Italian Open on Thursday. The top-seeded Australian won 6-3, 6-3 against Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the third round to set up a clash with 17-year-old Gauff who earlier ousted Madrid Open winner Aryna Sabalenka.
Sabalenka shocked Barty in last weekend’s Madrid final and the 25-year-old conceded she was wary of her first meeting with Gauff as she warms up for the French Open, which she won in her last appearance at Roland Garros in 2019.
“Coco has shown that she loves to bring her best tennis against the players that challenge her the most,” stated Barty.
“She’s extraordinarily harmful. She’s performed an distinctive event to date. She’s bought the power to take the sport on. She’s aggressive. She can run. She can belief her legs.
“I feel it’s going to be a brand new problem, a clear slate for each of us. There will likely be a interval in the match the place we’re making an attempt to determine one another out just a little bit.
“It’s definitely going to be a brand new one, however an thrilling match little doubt.”
Gauff, ranked 35th, reached her fourth quarter-final of the year with a 7-5, 6-3 win over world number four Sabalenka.
“It will be great to see where my level is,” stated Gauff of taking part in Barty.
“I imply, she’s the primary participant in the world. I’ve no stress on me.
“I’m simply going to go on the market and see what I can do and check out my finest.”
Six of the WTA’s top 10 players have already exited the Foro Italico, including second seed Naomi Osaka, four-time Rome winner Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin and Petra Kvitova.
Defending champion Simona Halep, the third seed, was forced to pull out with a calf injury in her second-round match.
“Hopefully I can continue that momentum into Paris,” stated Gauff, looking forward to the beginning of the French Open on May 30.
“Obviously I need to maintain going and maintain going additional. I’m not going to be happy till I attain my purpose,” added Gauff, who became the youngest WTA title winner since 2004 two years ago in Linz.
“Especially during that time, people were saying, ‘It’s a fluke, it will never happen again’.
“I think I’ve proved all those people wrong. I’m going to continue to prove them wrong.”
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