Ashleigh Barty is doing her best not to get ahead of herself after the Australian’s path to a French Open crown was spectacularly cleared.
The world No.8 calmly booked a spot in the round of 16 with a 6-3 6-1 defeat of Andrea Petkovic on the same day Serena Williams and world No.1 Naomi Osaka fell.
Williams was slated to face Barty next as she pursued a record-equalling 24th grand slam title while Osaka – Barty’s projected quarter-final opponent – had won the last two slams.
Instead Barty will play world No.35 Sofia Kenin after the 20-year-old fearlessly blasted compatriot Williams off the court.
The winner of Madison Keys or Osaka’s conqueror Katerina Siniakova would be Barty’s quarter-final opponent, with defending champion Simona Halep (third seed) and last year’s finalist Sloane Stephens (seventh seed) the only higher-ranked women in the draw.
Former champion Garbine Muguruza is another lurking in the bottom half of the draw, due to play Stephens on Sunday.
Barty, 23, has made a career of not thinking too far ahead and won’t start now as she hunts Australia’s first French Open title since Margaret Court won her fifth in 1973.
“For me it’s easy not to look ahead,” Barty said.
“Obviously there’s talk and it’s unavoidable to hear what else is happening around the draw.
“But for me, I can’t control any of that. I can’t control what other girls are doing.
“I can only control how I prepare, how I play, and ultimately how we go about my next match.”
Williams came from a set and a break down to beat Barty in the second round in Paris last year but the Australian wasn’t fussed about the rematch falling through.
“You can only play who’s on the other side of the net,” she said.
“There’s so much talk around the draws when they come out, and so much changes every single day.
“You have to take absolutely nothing away from Sofia.
“She’s played an incredible match, obviously, to beat a world-class champion.
“And the challenge will be just as great coming from her as it would have been if it was Serena.”
Barty was business-like in beating Petkovic, resisting some early pressure to claim five straight games and lay the path to victory.
She hasn’t lost a set in her three victories so far.
“I’ve been able to close out matches well,” Barty said.
“I’ve been able to win some matches in business-like fashion, but they’re certainly not easy matches, that’s for sure.
“I feel like I’m playing well and being able to execute to make the score lines look a little easier than the match actually is.”