The top-seeded Ashleigh Barty, who represented her country’s best chance for a homegrown Australian Open champion, lost in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, falling 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, to the 25th-seeded Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Barty began the match in dominant form, leading Muchova by a set and a break at 6-1, 2-0 at Rod Laver Arena.
Muchova took an off-court medical timeout early in the second set, with doctors checking her vital signs and cooling her down with ice.
Fans had been kept from the grounds for five days after a so-called circuit breaker lockdown imposed by the government because of a small coronavirus outbreak, but they are set to be allowed to return Thursday for the semifinals.
Barty had won a tournament, the Yarra Valley Classic, held in Melbourne the week before the Australian Open began.
Barty had reached the semifinals of the Australian Open last year, losing to Sofia Kenin, who won the tournament.
- Australian Open Day 11: Karolina Muchova stuns top seed Ash BartyYahoo Sports
- No. 1 Barty upset in Australian quarterfinals by MuchovaRaleigh News & Observer
- The Latest: No. 1 Barty upset by Muchova at Australian OpenWashington Post
- Karolina Muchova outlasts No. 1 Ash Barty to reach Australian Open semifinalsESPN
- Scenes From the 2021 Australian OpenThe Atlantic
- 2021 Australian Open odds, quarterfinal predictions: Top tennis expert reveals Barty vs. Muchova picksCBSSports.com
- Australian Open 2021 women's quarter-final: Ash Barty stunned by Karolina Muchova – as it happenedThe Guardian
- 2021 Australian Open live stream, Quarterfinals live coverage, start time, featured matches, how to watchFor The Win
- Australian Open 2021 LIVE updates: Ash Barty crashes out in quarter-final after shock loss to Karolína MuchovaThe Age
