2021 Australian Open Quarter-Finals – Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova Preview & Prediction

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THE FACTS

Where is Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova taking place? Melbourne Park, Melbourne

When is Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova on and what time does it start? Wednesday 17th February, 2021 – not before 00:00 (UK)

Where can I get tickets for Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova ? Click here to reach the official 2021 Australian Open ticket selection

What channel is Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova on? The 2021 Australian Open will be televised on Eurosport so it is worth checking their schedule for this specific match

Where can I stream Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Muchova in the UK? Sky customers can stream this match on the Sky Go app. Alternatively, the match can be streamed to subscribers of Eurosport Player, either on the official website or as an add-on to an Amazon Prime subscription

THE LOWDOWN

ASHLEIGH BARTY

• World number one Ashleigh Barty stormed through her round of 16 match against Shelby Rogers to make it through to the Australian Open quarter-finals without dropping a set.
• 24-year-old Barty did particularly well to continue her strong form into week two after the five-day lockdown imposed in the state of Victoria meant fans were not allowed in after the third round.
• The Aussie home favourite won her only Grand Slam to date at Roland-Garros in 2019 but she made it through to the semi-finals here last season and is getting closer each campaign.

KAROLINA MUCHOVA

• 24-year-old Karolina Muchova is yet to drop a set at the Australian Open and has seen off fierce competition from two seeds in Karolina Pliskova and Elise Mertens in her last two matches.
• The world number 27 has reached her second ever Grand Slam quarter-final after her breakthrough campaign at Wimbledon 2019 saw her also beat fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova in the round of 16.
• Muchova came off the worse in her only previous meeting with Ashleigh Barty back in 2018 at the US Open, losing in straight sets at the third round stage.

THE PREDICTION

Two players yet to have lost in 2021 will face off here in what should be a vastly entertaining match on Rod Laver Arena. Not only are they undefeated this season so far, nether Ashleigh Barty or Karolina Muchova has lost a set at the Australian Open and they are both fearless competitors with particularly powerful groundstrokes that could take this match well into the second hour. At this stage of a Grand Slam, especially as the home hopeful, Ashleigh Barty would have loved to have the backing of a fierce crowd behind her but knows the potential prize for winning here is returning spectators in the semi-finals. Muchova has made the quarter-final of a Grand Slam once before at Wimbledon 2019 but experience should tell here in a win for Barty. There is a scope for three sets but perhaps two tough sets for the world number one is likelier here.