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French Open champion Barty double faulted to
give Sharapova a 2-1 lead in the first set and it looked like an
upset could be brewing in the showdown between the two former
world number ones.
But an error-prone Sharapova bowed out after she produced six
double faults and squandered six of her seven break point
opportunities.
"Overall it was a pretty clean performance," Barty said.
"It's difficult to come out against a player like Maria. She's
an incredible champion, she knows how to fight and she makes you
earn every single point.
"So I was really pleased with the way I was able to hang in
there today and win some of those big points."
Barty earned an early break in the second set when she rifled a
crosscourt forehand that caught Sharapova flat footed for a 2-0
lead.
Sharapova fought hard the next game, forcing seven deuces but
was unable to break and Barty cruised to the finish from there,
winning 11 of the last 13 games.
Barty will next face Anett Kontaveit, who defeated Polish
teenager Iga Swiatek in straight sets.
Wimbledon champion Halep had her back against the wall against
the big-serving Alexandrova when she dropped the first set and
trailed 5-4 in the second but won the next three games and
elevated her play again in the decider.
The match was the first for Halep since she pulled out of her
quarter-final at the Rogers Cup on Friday with an Achilles issue
but she moved well in her battle with the Russian.
Fourth seed Halep is searching for her first title at the event
after three runner-up finishes in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
"I feel confident every time I come here but the conditions are
very tough. The court is very fast," the Romanian said.
World number one Naomi Osaka improved to 4-0 lifetime against
Aliaksandra Sasnovich with a 7-6(3) 2-6 6-2 win.
Osaka, who regained the top ranking after Barty's early exit
from the Rogers Cup last week, smacked 24 winners as she looks
to sharpen her game before heading to New York later this month
to defend her U.S. Open title.
She faces Hsieh Su-Wei in the third round.
Third seeded Karolina Pliskova crushed lucky loser Wang Yafan
6-1 6-3 and Donna Vekic knocked out former champion Victoria
Azarenka 6-2 7-5 to set up a showdown with Venus Williams on
Thursday.
Seventh seed Elina Svitolina, ninth seed Aryna Sabalenka and
big-serving American Madison Keys all advanced to the third
round behind straight set wins.
Svitolina set up a date with American Sofia Kenin, who beat
Zarina Diyas 6-4 6-1.
Another American, eighth seed Sloane Stephens, had a tougher
match against Yulia Putintseva but prevailed 2-6 6-4 6-3 and
will next face Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, a 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2
winner over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll, editing by Pritha Sarkar/Greg
Stutchbury)
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