LONDON – World number one Ashleigh Barty maintained her
impressive form with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 triumph over Britain's
Harriet Dart to enter the last 16 stage at Wimbledon on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Australian extends her unbeaten run to 15 matches and
is the first female from her country to reach the second week of the
tournament since 2010.
"I felt like I served really well today," said Barty.
"I did my best to get a quick start.
"It's a first for me (entering the second week) and new territory but
really excited to be here in singles for the first time."
Meanwhile, Serena Williams continued her campaign for an eighth
Wimbledon title after the 37-year-old American bested Germany's Julia
Goerges 6-3, 6-4 to enter the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Barty stormed into a 5-0 lead and served out the set with three aces
in just 25 minutes.
The 22-year-old Dart, who is ranked 181 places below top seed Barty,
wilted with a netted backhand to concede a 2-0 deficit in the second
set.
Barty saved four break points at 4-1 and rallied to victory inside an
hour.
American Alison Riske is Barty's next opponent after she bested Swiss
Belinda Bencic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Williams rallied to the first break at 4-2 before wrapping up the
first set with a cross-court forehand after half an hour.
Goerges, who was beaten in the semi-finals last year by Williams,
fired a long return to fall a break behind in the second set and was
resigned to defeat after 72 minutes.
The 23-time grand slam winner will play Carla Suarez Navarro on
Monday following the Spaniard's 6-3, 6-3 success over American Lauren
Davis.
Petra Kvitova also progressed to the last 16 after the Czech, who is
a two-time Wimbledon champion cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Poland's
Magda Linette.
Kvitova will meet either American ninth seed Sloane Stephens or
Britain's home favourite Jo Konta next.
Belgium's Elise Mertens is through to the second week as she
dismissed China's Qiang Wang 6-2, 6-7 (9-11), 6-4.
In the men's draw, Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori advanced after
he surpassed American Steve Johnson with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory for
his 400th match win at Tour-level.
American Sam Querrey defeated Australia's John Millman 7-6 (7-3), 7-6
(10-8), 6-3 to enter the second week of the tournament for the fourth
time in his 12th appearance at the tournament.
Eight-time champion Roger Federer and world number two Rafael Nadal
continue their Wimbledon campaigns on Centre Court later on
Saturday.