In a match that could have gone either way, top seed Ashleigh Barty prevailed 7-6(6) 3-6 6-3 against Petra Martic in two hours and 22 minutes. The Australian, who was ranked No.17 at the tournament’s last year’s edition, raced to an early 4-1 lead, amazingly winning 15 successive points. As Barty’s concentration dropped, Martic fought back and the favorite even had to save a set point in the tiebreaker.
The unseeded Martic was superior in the second set, losing just four points on serve and capitalizing on the sole break point opportunity she earned, while Barty piled up 13 unforced errors.
