Barty routs Azarenka, Kyrgios named in Laver Cup’s World Team

Ashleigh Barty has set up a quarter-final clash with Barbora Krejcikova at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati after routing two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka 6-0, 6-2.

World No.1 Barty rolled through the first 10 games of her match with the defending champion unbeaten to advance to the final eight.

“I think sometimes the scoreline in tennis the scoreline can fool you,” Barty, who the previous day had dispatched of British qualifier Heather Watson, said.

“Though it seemed like a quite convincing scoreline in the match, each and every game had crucial poitns and I was able to win most of those.”

Barty won her only career meeting with rising Czech Krejcikova, beating her in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in the fourth round en route to her Wimbledon triumph last month.

In the men’s draw, no Novak, no Roger and no Rafa doesn’t mean winning a second Ohio title will be no problem for top seed Daniil Medvedev.

Ashleigh Barty won the first 10 games of her match with defending Cincinnati champion Victoria Azarenka.Credit:AP

He’s just making it look that way.

Medvedev, the 2019 champion and last year’s runner-up to Novak Djokovic, advanced to the quarter-finals with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Grigor Dimitrov.

“It was definitely a great level of tennis,” Medvedev said. “It was pretty hot for both of us. I saw Grigor struggling, so I figured that’s how it is. It’s the same for everybody. Our bodies are getting more used to the heat.”

Olympic champion and third-seeded Alexander Zverev also advanced, beating Guido Pella 6-2, 6-3.

Nick Kyrgios has been named in as part of Team World for next month’s Laver Cup.Credit:Getty Images

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios and American duo Reilly Opelka and John Isner have been picked as the final players to represent Team World at next month’s Laver Cup, tournament organisers said on Thursday.

The news comes a fortnight after Kyrgios appeared to suggest he may be considering retirement, saying he felt “strange” about his career ahead of the Citi Open in Washington DC. He lost to American Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.

The trio join Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, alongside Argentine Diego Schwartzman.

“Reilly had a great run last week in Toronto to reach the finals and I’ve been really impressed with his recent form,” said Team World captain John McEnroe.

Isner won the Atlanta Open last month and reached the semi-finals in Toronto.

“To be on a team with guys we’re normally competing against is so different and so much fun. We come together so well as a group, the chemistry is awesome and it’s such a great environment to be part of,” said Isner.

The Laver Cup pits six players from Team Europe against six from Team World, with four matches played each day (three singles and a doubles). Team Europe have won all the three editions so far.

This year’s event will take place in Boston from September 24-26.

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