[Thrilla]

Fitness concern: Barty pulls out of Open doubles.

Injury threatens to undermine Ashleigh Barty's Australian Open title push after the great home hope pulled out the women's doubles on Saturday with an abdominal strain.
A "mild strain" was the official reason offered for Barty's withdrawal, casting doubt over her fitness ahead of Sunday's fourth-round singles showdown with Maria Sharapova.

Barty had said she was "all good" and had no concerns following her third-round win over Maria Sakkari on Friday.
But the 22-year-old has since opted to reduce her heavy workload, pulling out of her scheduled second-round doubles match with Victoria Azarenka against American pair Jennifer Brady and Alison Riske.
Barty has played eight singles matches in 12 days, as well her first-round doubles win in Melbourne.

Already guaranteed a career-high ranking following her first-time charge to the Open's last 16, Barty will be knocking on the door of the top 10 if she manages to pull off a watershed win over Sharapova.

The 15th seed was brimming with belief after beating Sakkari as she eyed a maiden grand slam quarter-final berth.
With nine wins already this season, including a straight-sets mugging of world No. 1 Simona Halep in Sydney, Barty described her preparation for the blockbuster against one of tennis's modern-day giants as "perfect".

"There is nothing else can get you ready for matches than matches," she said.
"I feel like I have the matches and tennis under my belt and now it's about going out and executing on the day against my opponent."
Barty is four wins away from becoming the first Australian woman to capture the Open singles crown since Chris O'Neill in 1978.
But Sharapova, the 2008 Open champion, has never found any room for sentiment and is happy to play the Barty-pooper role after ending Caroline Wozniacki's title reign with a stirring third-round win over the Dane.
"Her story is phenomenal," the ruthless Russian said of Barty.

"She loves playing here and did extremely well in Sydney last week.
"I know she took a little break from the game and came back and resurged.
"It's going to be a tough crowd but I go out here to perform."

Serving will be key on Sunday. Barty tops the tournament's ace count with 24 untouchable deliveries through three rounds, while Sharapova has coughed up the most double-faults with 16.
Also yet to drop a set during her foray to the last 16, Barty lost to Sharapova in their only previous meeting, last year on clay in Rome. But the Queenslander is a vastly different player now, as evidenced by her projected rise to No. 13 in the rankings next week.
Success over Sharapova would likely push Barty to 11th in the rankings and within sight of her 2019 goal of cracking the top 10.
But a quarter-final against either Czech world No. 8 Petra Kvitova or American teenage revelation Amanda Anisimova is what Barty truly craves.

HOW THEY MATCH UP

Ashleigh Barty
Age: 22
Ranking: 15
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prizemoney: $7.4 million
Career titles: 3
Grand slam titles: 0
Australian Open win-loss record: 7-5
Best Australian Open results: fourth round 2019

Maria Sharapova
Age: 31
Ranking: 30
Plays: right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prizemoney: $53.5 million
Career titles: 36
Grand slam titles: 5 (Australian Open 2008; French Open 2012, 2014; Wimbledon 2004; US Open 2006)
Australian Open win-loss record: 57-13
Best Australian Open result: champion 2008

[Thrilla]

GL

[juicername]

Barty-poopers itt.

[SamsNCharge99]

I would say Barty pulled out of doubles to focus on the potential of winning a singles major. She has played a lot of matches compared to Sharapova, this should be a very competitive match

[Thrilla]

I would say Barty pulled out of doubles to focus on the potential of winning a singles major. She has played a lot of matches compared to Sharapova, this should be a very competitive match

Yeah that's what the news article basically says. lol

[Thrilla]

Heavy consensus on Sharapova in the sharp bettors circle.

[HurryUpAndDrink]

I'm laying off this one, GL!

[jjgold]

means nothing

DOUBLES

[Thrilla]

means nothing

DOUBLES

Sir please use your head. Regardless if miss Sharapova wins or not. You can't just brush this information off.

[Thrilla]

[Wrongside]

Sharapova looked great the other night. Australians have been underperforming at this tourney for years
(New Men a bit of an exception). I think she is feeling the nerves more than anything. Not good. I think she goes the way of Stosur. Only hope is that Maria is not fully back and the other night had more to do with her disdain for Woz.

oz pressure gets to her IMO. I agree, take Sharapova

[unlearn]

Barty a fat slob with horrible fitness to begin with

[cincinnatikid513]

more likely pull off upset bird man over nadal or collins vs kerber

[SamsNCharge99]

Bird man

[DavidGoliath5003]

Heavy consensus on Sharapova in the sharp bettors circle.

Sharipova was good vs Wozniacki... suprised shes a dog here

[DavidGoliath5003]

more likely pull off upset bird man over nadal or collins vs kerber

Lol berdy is not beating Nadal

[cincinnatikid513]

Lol berdy is not beating Nadal

seen crazier things happen

[DavidGoliath5003]

seen crazier things happen

Yeah on first time matchups maybe. Berdy is not a great returner of serve.... This is why Nadal owns him

[DavidGoliath5003]

seen crazier things happen

Holly shit just looked at the odds there very low imo... suprising to me. Maybe berdy has a chance

[SamsNCharge99]

Barty party

[Thrilla]

[DavidGoliath5003]

Now thinking a bit harder I think Sharapova might be a bit tired fron battling wozniaki.

[pazim]

Barty has trouble beating higher ranked players. She has the talent but she just caves under pressure.

[DavidGoliath5003]

Barty has trouble beating higher ranked players. She has the talent but she just caves under pressure.

Shes new to being good.... maybe if she was 26 or 27 then i would agree... shes 23

[cincinnatikid513]

Yeah on first time matchups maybe. Berdy is not a great returner of serve.... This is why Nadal owns him

nadal doesnt have a powerful serve

[KingHawkins]

can see now in game 3 that Barty will win this match. I have $50 on Pova but if I could buy out and go over the top, I swear to you that I would.

[DavidGoliath5003]

Dude im on Barty and im stressed... both girls just average right now

[El Nino]

Wow, that cut backhand bullshit isn't doing a thing. Barty about to get starched 6-2 here in the 2nd set. Back to cricket, ya go.

[DavidGoliath5003]

I knew it ! Books gave me +150 sharapova down 4-3 coulda went either way but sharapova is more consistant

[jtoler]

Wow, that cut backhand bullshit isn't doing a thing. Barty about to get starched 6-2 here in the 2nd set. Back to cricket, ya go.

exactly but thats her game other than being too tense on important points too much slicing. that slice backhand volley to get broken was a stupid shot she had the entire court to hit to and sliced it out at the net. she wants to take something off of maria's groundstrokes by slicing so much but maria has no problems with those slices all its doing is making it harder for barty to figure out how to generate points. brain fitness is her problem not physical

[Thrilla]

Wow, that cut backhand bullshit isn't doing a thing. Barty about to get starched 6-2 here in the 2nd set. Back to cricket, ya go.

The opposite happened.

[jtoler]

if maria holds 1st and 2nd game barty fold as usual as long as maria isnt ueing too much

[El Nino]

The opposite happened.

I know what I'm doing here

That's the 2nd week of a major Sharapova I know and love.

[Demonata]

Im on barty. Was scared after first set but looking good now. I love how barty played last year!

[jtoler]

the basher broken both times alleviating the pressure for barty