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Wimbledon 2018: Ashleigh Barty washes out on a torrent of flubs, faults and follies

The look on Ashleigh Barty's face says it all as  another dud shot ruins her Wimbledon hopes.

The look on Ashleigh Barty's face says it all as another dud shot ruins her Wimbledon hopes. Photo: EPA/Gerry Penny

Ashleigh Barty’s Wimbledon campaign is over following a disappointing, mistake-riddled third-round loss to Russian Daria Kasatkina.

Barty made a flying start before collapsing to a 7-5 6-3 defeat, leaving Daria Gavrilova as Australia’s last hope in the women’s singles draw.

Barty’s coach Craig Tyzzer was left shaking his head in dismay as the 17th seed piled up 24 unforced errors to bow out in the first week of a grand slam for the 15th time in as many appearances.

Barty looked on course to become the first Australian woman to make the last 16 at The All England Club in 18 years after charging to a 3-0 lead.

The former Wimbledon junior champion broke Kasatkina at the first opportunity and held her first two services games to love.

The tide began to turn when, aided by a lucky net cord winner, the Russian broke back in the seventh game before levelling the first set up at 4-4.

Barty’s second ace gave her a 40-15 lead when serving at 5-5 but three backhand errors and a beautiful lob winner from Kasatkina suddenly earned the Russian a second break out of nowhere and a 6-5 advantage.

The 14th seed served the first set out as the errors continued to flow from Barty.

Kasatkina claimed her third break in the fifth game of the second set but Barty hit straight back only to falter again from 40-15 up.

The Aussie No.1 double-faulted then dumped a forehand in the net before surrendering to lose the match in just 73 minutes.

Gavrilova, the 26th seed, takes on Serb Aliaksandra Sasnovich later on Saturday striving to become the first Australian woman since Jelena Dokic in 2000 to progress to the last 16 on London’s hallowed grass.

Gavrilova beat Sasnovich in their only previous encounter, but isn’t underestimating the world No.50, who took out the pre-tournament favourite Petra Kvitova in round one.

“She’s had a great year. She’s been on a roll and she’s actually been really tricky on the grass and she hits the ball super low over the net,” Gavrilova said.

“She doesn’t hit it flat. It’s just a different ball and I think she has a pretty good effective serve on the grass.

“It’s going to be tricky.”

Either Latvian 12th seed Jelena Ostapenko or Russian qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko will be awaiting the winner in the last 16.

-AAP

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