“Not going to take two or three extra weeks“
Some players might think taking time off in the middle of the season would interrupt their flow, affect their momentum, but in her first three rounds in New York, Barty has looked focused and seems to be improving.
“I certainly don't hesitate in taking a week off,” she said. “I do it often throughout the year, just complete racquets down, don't kind of chat to my team. I just go and refresh and get away from everyone. I know when I come back, I'll be better for it.
“Yes, it may take two or three extra days (to find top form again), but it's not going to take two or three extra weeks, so it's not something I have to stress about.”
Should Barty get past Wang in the fourth round on Sunday, she is likely to play the 23-times grand slam champion Serena Williams but the Australian is focused only on Wang, a player who has pushed her to three sets in each of their two previous meetings.
“She’s a very tough competitor, moves extremely well,” Barty said. “When the ball is in her strike zone, she can go both ways, cross and line off both wings. I think it's going to be an incredibly physical match, a match where I need to make sure that I serve well and bring variety in as much as I can.”