France, Feb. 15 -- Top seed Ashleigh Barty continued her quest to become the first homegrown Australian Open champion innearly 50 years with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the unseeded American Shelby Rogers.

Barty claimed the tie on Rod Laver Arena in 71 minutes to reach the last eight in Melbourne for the third year in a row.

"We will keep chipping away and keep trying to do the right things to progress as far as we can," said the 24-year-old after her 6-3, 6-4 victory over the unseeded American Shelby Rogers.

Barty lost in the semi-finals at the 2020 tournament and hastried to calm the expectations of the partisans who are yearning for a local winner for the first time since Chris O'Neil hoisted the women's singles title in 1978.

"It's ex...