MELBOURNE, Australia -- Australia's Ash Barty has fought back from a set down against Maria Sharapova to secure her passage into a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The 22-year-old Australian gave up a tight first set before rallying and dominating the former World No. 1 in the second and early parts of the third, eventually advancing 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Barty took advantage of an off day from Sharapova on serve; the Russian double-faulted on 10 occasions throughout the match, gifting the No. 15 seed free points at crucial stages.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for Barty, who, despite battling hard throughout the first set, gave up the first break point opportunity in the ninth game which the No. 30 Sharapova gladly took on her way to a 6-4 lead.
However the second set was played completely on the Australian's terms. After exchanging holds early, Barty took advantage of a break point opportunity to lead 3-1, and after Sharapova started to show frustration not long after, Barty quickly consolidated and ran away with the set, 6-1.
Following the second set, Sharapova ran into the locker room for a seven-minute bathroom break, but came out just as rattled as in the second.
In her first service game of the third, Sharapova double-faulted to gift Barty three break points. The young Australian only needed one, and then breezed through her first service game for a 2-0 lead in the decider.
There were some nervous moments from the young Australian in the closing stages; after racing to a 4-1 advantage, Sharapova broke back and had two further break opportunities which would have levelled the match, but Barty's strong service game helped to dig her out of the hole.
"Maria was never going to go away, she's a proven champion," Barty said in her post-match press conference. "Time and time again she proves she will fight until the last point.
"I gave myself opportunities to go 5-0 [up in the third set] and just couldn't execute. I was doing all the right things but very happy to come through in the end."
She said she definitely felt the lift from the home crowd when the match was in the balance, but denied she was nervous when Sharapova was able to claw back a break in the third.
"The crowd were unbelievable. I have never quite played in Rod Laver when it's been that full, especially against a champion like Maria who has proven that she can come back from any deficit," Barty said.
"She's proven herself in the biggest stages. It's pleasing [to come away with the win]."
Barty will face No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals, after the two-time Wimbledon-winning Czech breezed past young American Amanda Anisimova in straight sets earlier on Sunday.
Kvitova defeated Barty in the final of the Sydney International earlier this month, and when asked what she'll need to differently against the Czech this time around, Barty said she'll need to "win a couple more important points".
"It's exciting that I get to have another chance at Petra straightaway," she said.
"Not often does that happen where you get to kind of have a replay against the same opponent. It's really exciting and I'm really pumped to have another chance here in Melbourne."