Barty quickly advances but Sofia Kenin makes nervous start
BBC Online :
World number one Ashleigh Barty took just 44 minutes and did not drop a game as she ended a year-long wait for Grand Slam tennis with a stunning win.
The Australian beat Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-0 in a ruthless display to reach the Australian Open second round.
Defending champion Sofia Kenin, however, made a nervous start and was in tears before a 7-5 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis.
Meanwhile, former champion Victoria Azarenka was knocked out.
The Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013 and was a US Open finalist in September, seemed to struggle with her breathing and needed an inhaler in a 7-5, 6-4 defeat by Jessica Pegula.
Barty’s last Grand Slam appearance was a semi-final here in January 2020 with the Australian missing much of last season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
She made a blistering return to the tour last week by winning the Yarra Valley Classic and there were ominous signs on Tuesday for her rivals that she is carrying on her good form.
Kovinic won just 10 points in the match as Barty fired 10 winners and five aces past the world number 76.
“It felt great to be here,” said Barty, who won the opening 16 points of the match. “I tried to stick to my process and routine but I just wanted to have fun.”
The 24-year-old will play either compatriot Daria Gavrilova or Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo next.
World number one Ashleigh Barty took just 44 minutes and did not drop a game as she ended a year-long wait for Grand Slam tennis with a stunning win.
The Australian beat Danka Kovinic 6-0, 6-0 in a ruthless display to reach the Australian Open second round.
Defending champion Sofia Kenin, however, made a nervous start and was in tears before a 7-5 6-4 win over Australian wildcard Maddison Inglis.
Meanwhile, former champion Victoria Azarenka was knocked out.
The Belarusian, who won the title in 2012 and 2013 and was a US Open finalist in September, seemed to struggle with her breathing and needed an inhaler in a 7-5, 6-4 defeat by Jessica Pegula.
Barty’s last Grand Slam appearance was a semi-final here in January 2020 with the Australian missing much of last season because of the coronavirus pandemic.
She made a blistering return to the tour last week by winning the Yarra Valley Classic and there were ominous signs on Tuesday for her rivals that she is carrying on her good form.
Kovinic won just 10 points in the match as Barty fired 10 winners and five aces past the world number 76.
“It felt great to be here,” said Barty, who won the opening 16 points of the match. “I tried to stick to my process and routine but I just wanted to have fun.”
The 24-year-old will play either compatriot Daria Gavrilova or Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo next.
