Riske upsets top-seeded Barty to reach Wimbledon quarterfinals
Associated Press
Alison Riske of McMurray celebrates after winning a point against Ash Barty in a Monday’s fourth-round women’s singles match.
Assoicated Press
Alison Riske returns the ball to Ash Barty during Monday’s fourth-round women’s singles match at Wimbledon.
Unseeded McMurray native Alison Riske came from a set down Monday to upset top-ranked Ash Barty 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 at Wimbledon and reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Riske broke for a 5-3 lead in the deciding set and clinched the win on her first match point when Barty sent a backhand wide.
The loss ends a 15-match winning streak for Barty, who was coming off titles at the French Open and Birmingham and was playing her first tournament as No. 1.
“Right now, Ash is playing well,” Riske said. “I believe that I am, as well.”
That’s certainly true.
She improved to 14-1 on grass courts this season and reached the first major quarterfinal of her career in 30 appearances.
It’ll come against yet another player who has topped the WTA rankings, Serena Williams, who will be participating in her 14th quarterfinal at Wimbledon alone.
Riske won her fourth consecutive three-setter in the tournament.
“I haven’t been starting out fantastic in all my matches, but I knew I had the confidence that if I could manage my service games I was going to get looks on her serve,” said Riske, whose best previous showing at Wimbledon was reaching the third round. “I had to play aggressive. I had to take it to Ash.
“I’m so thrilled. I think honestly the biggest key for me has just been to battle from start to finish of every match that I’ve been a part of. Judging by the scoreline, they haven’t all gone perfect. I feel like I’ve been there in every moment, looking to impose myself. I’m really most proud about that. I think just being tough has been the key.”
Barty began perfectly, winning the first game of the match this way: 112 mph ace, 102 mph ace, 110 mph ace, 108 mph ace. She hit another pair of aces in her next service game and finished with 12. But Riske simply played so cleanly, delivering twice as many winners as unforced errors, 30-15.
Riske is playing in her 30th Grand Slam tournament but her previous best result was reaching the fourth round at the 2013 U.S. Open.
“I’m so incredibly excited,” Riske grinned. “The fact that it’s at Wimbledon, my favorite Grand Slam, the place that I had always dreamed to be in the last eight club of … they can’t kick me out now, I’m here to stay. I am just over the moon, so happy.”
Barty was impressed with Riske’s performance.
“There aren’t many holes in her game, full-stop,” said Barty, who followed up her first Grand Slam championship at Roland Garros last month by grabbing a title at a grass-court tuneup tournament.
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, reached the quarterfinals at the All England Club by beating Carla Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-2.
Williams, who missed about a year of play while she had a baby in 2017 but returned to the tennis tour in 2018, before Wimbledon had not played since the third round of the French Open – skipping the grass-court warm-up tournaments.
“I definitely haven’t had enough (matches),” said Williams, who had been dealing with an injured left knee. “I have more matches this week than literally the past five months. So, yikes.”