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French Open: Ash Barty wins chess match, but has to face Vondroušová in final

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates after scoring a point against Amanda Anisimova (not seen) of USA during their semi final match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France on June 07, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 07: Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates after scoring a point against Amanda Anisimova (not seen) of USA during their semi final match at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, France on June 07, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /
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Ashleigh Barty won a high-quality match against teenage sensation Amanda Anisimova in three, tight sets, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3. She will face another teenager, Markéta Vondroušová, who won over Johanna Konta, 7-5, 7-6(2).

The match between Australia’s Ashleigh Barty and 17-year-old Amanda Anisimova was a chess match, full of stunning shot making from both players.

It took a while for the American Anisimova to find her rhythm in the first set. At 5-0, the world No. 51 sublimely fought back to claim the first set tie break.

Undaunted, however, Ash Barty decisively won the second set to even things up. The third was a much more hotly contested bout than the score indicates. The shot placement was off the charts, with both women placing the ball into the far corners of the court.

Clearly nervous at the start of the third, Barty’s serve game had her almost broken, at 40-40, with Anisimova hitting a gorgeous winner into the very corner of the first box. Barty was able to answer with an ace and then the 23-year-old Australian knocked out a down-the-line forehand to seal the score at 1-1. The outrageous angles continued for the rest of the set from both players.

Anisimova proceeded to break Barty in the next game with a spellbinding cross-court winner that she specializes in, but the Miami Open winner was able to force errors from the youngster to break back and put the scoreboard back in order at 2-2. After that, Ashleigh Barty surged forward, utilizing her variety to maximum effect. The 23-year-old displayed her customary unflappable demeanor to seize the momentum and the chance to play in the final, her first grand slam final.

It took six match points, but Barty was able to clinch her spot for Saturday with a lethal drop shot. Winded, she held onto the net to catch her breath and waited to congratulate Amanda Anisimova. Ashleigh Barty is the first Australian woman into the final since Sam Stosur did it in 2010. She will also be at least the new world No. 3 come Monday when the new rankings are announced. If she wins the title, she’ll be No. 2.

Barty may have dispatched one teenager, but up next for her is the second one, 19-year-old Markéta Vondroušová, who was able to force several errors from her British opponent Konta, to gain her spot. Johanna Konta squandered her chance to close out the first set, when sitting in command at 5-3. The Czech teenager steeled her nerves to pounce and regain the momentum of the match. After that, Vondroušová never looked back.

“It was a very tough match,” Vondroušová said afterwards, “and I’m just happy that I held my nerve at the end.”

The women’s French Open final between Ahsleigh Barty and Markéta Vondroušová will take place on Saturday, June 8, at 9:00 a.m., ET, live on NBC, with an encore broadcast later in the day on the Tennis Channel.

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