Ash Barty braced for tough Amanda Anisimova clash to keep Australian Open hopes alive

World number one women's tennis player Ash Barty will have to overcome the formidable Amanda Anisimova to keep alive her hopes of becoming the first Australian since 1978 to win their home Grand Slam when the two meet in the last 16 at Melbourne Park on Sunday.

Barty was on a collision-course with defending champion Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, but Anisimova edged out the Japanese four-times major winner to extend her winning streak to eight matches this year.

In their only previous meeting at the 2019 French Open semi-finals, Barty won but the Australian will be wary of the unseeded American's power from the baseline, which saw her fire 46 winners against Osaka.

Indeed, Barty battled from a set and a break down in France to progress and claim her maiden major title three years ago.

But Anisimova will embrace every challenge Barty throws at her, particularly after a difficult period off the court with the 20-year-old's father-coach unexpectedly passing away last year.

«I've gone through a couple of hard years,» Anisimova said.

«Last year was a huge struggle for me. Honestly … I really wanted to be having these moments again.

»Sometimes you doubt it, like, 'What if I get injured and I'll never be able to play in a grand slam again?'.

«Those thoughts try to creep up in my head sometimes.»

Anisimova had beaten her first top-10 opponent as a 16-year-old and won her first WTA title when 17, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open in the same year she reached the final four at Roland Garros.

But it wasn't until this month that she won another title, claiming the Melbourne Summer Set trophy.

That form has continued at the Australian Open, with Anisimova going toe-to-toe with defending champion Naomi Osaka and prevailing to