Teaming up for the first time since the US Open in 2014, Barty and Peers defeated Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska and Horacio Zeballos in their opening round mixed doubles match, 6-1 7-6(3).

“It’s just good, it’s easy. I feel like we can have a really open line of communication and be really honest. That allows us to play freely and have fun. It was certainly nice to be pretty sharp tonight,” Barty said about playing with Peers for the first time in seven years.

“It’d have been 2014 (the last time they played doubles together), so that was a while ago. But as soon as we got out there, it felt like we never stopped. I think that's the beauty of knowing someone off the court as well as on the court.”

Despite going out in the women’s doubles quarterfinals earlier today, Barty is still on the hunt for an Olympic medal.

“We’re here to fight for medals for Australia. Obviously, this morning was disappointing to not be able to get through that doubles match, but we played a good level.

“It was nice tonight to get a win on the board. We’re still in the hunt for a medal for Australia, and we’ll do the best that we can to try and achieve that.”

Earlier today, Barty and Storm Sanders fell to the top seeded Czech pair of Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova, 3-6 6-4 [10-7].

“It’s disappointing, we came super close but you know what we left it all out there, gave everything we could. We didn’t get the win today,” Sanders said.

“We really, really enjoyed it, playing our first Olympics and playing with Asho was so much fun out there.

“Honestly, they lifted in the second set, we always knew that was always going to happen. They are Grand Slam champions, probably the No.1 team in the world at the moment.

“We always knew it was going to be hard work and you know what we put ourselves in a good position and couldn’t quite get it done today.”

The last match on court 1 saw former world No.1 doubles player and five-time Olympian Sam Stosur and top 50 doubles player Ellen Perez fall to Swiss pair Belinda Bencic and Vikorija Golubic 6-4 6-4 in their quarterfinal match.

“We had moments of playing really well and moments of too many errors and you can’t really do that at this stage,” Stosur said after the match.

“They played pretty solid tennis, credit to them but we’re obviously pretty disappointed.

“To make it to the quarters with Ellen was awesome, we would have liked to have gone one or two more, it would have been nice to be in contention, but it’s not to be.

“It’s been a fantastic week with all the girls and the guys. And the support from them on the sidelines.

“It’s the Olympics. What’s not to be happy about and proud about and to be part of this Australian team is awesome,” Stosur continued.

Perez added: “I’m extremely proud. To get some wins for Australia is always a great feeling. We would have loved to go a few more but it is what it is and we definitely gave it our all.”

Barty and Peers will play in the mixed doubles quarterfinals tomorrow.

Results

Women’s doubles quarterfinals

• QF [1] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) / Katerina Siniakova (CZE) d [6] Ash Barty (AUS) / Storm Sanders (AUS) 3-6 6-4 [10-7]
• QF Belinda Bencic (SUI) / Vikorija Golubic (SUI) d Sam Stosur (AUS) / Ellen Perez (AUS) 6-4 6-4

Mixed doubles first round

• R16 Ash Barty (AUS) / John Peers (AUS) d Nadia Podoroska (ARG) / Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1 7-6(3)

Schedule of play – Thursday 29 July

• Mixed doubles quarterfinals

Thursday’s schedule of play will be released soon

Harriet Rendle

#HaveAGo at Tennis