A lacklustre playing Ash Barty was given a big scare early on in her opening match at the Australian Open after being forced to come back from a set down against Lesia Tsurenko.
The world No.1 rallied from behind to down Tsurenko 5-7, 6-1, 6-1. A player who is ranked more than 100 places lower than her. Barty’s opening encounter at Melbourne Park this year was very much a match of two halves. During the first 45 minutes, she looked tentative on court and struggled to find consistency in her shot making. Hitting 19 out of her 30 unforced errors during the opener. However, as the match progress Barty’s level elevated as she ended up racing towards the finish line with the help of a seven-game winning streak between the second and third set.
“I think in the first set I was still in control. It was just a little bit of execution.” Barty said during her on-court interview.
“I was just rushing a little bit, trying to finish off points too quickly. Once I was able to get my physicality into it, I felt more comfortable and I was able to look after my service games a little bit better.”
Barty, who won the Adelaide International last week, struggled with her serve early on against her Ukrainian rival. Throughout the first set the world No.1 went down a break twice before fighting her way back to draw level. The at times erratic hitting from Barty, ended up costing her the opening set against Tsurenko. Who clinched the lead at the expense of a double fault from the top seed.
With a muted silence around the usually animated Rod Laver Arena, Barty finally managed to find her footing in the match and rapidly did so. Significantly elevating her form and benefiting from a slight lull in the intensity coming from across the court, she charged through the second set in just 27 minutes. Impressively winning 27 out of 39 points played that triggered a huge roar from her home crowd.
Continuing to turn her fortunes around, Barty broke once again at the start of the decider with the help of a Tsurenko double fault. Continuing to exert her dominance on proceedings, the double break was sealed shortly afterwards, when the Australian broke to love two games later. In the lead, it was only a matter of time before victory was Barty’s, who converted her first match point following Tsurenko’s eighth double fault.
“It’s all good.” She joked about her minor scare. “It’s amazing to be back out here (on the Rod Laver Arena). Obviously it’s a tight turnaround from Adelaide but it’s nice to sort it (my game) out at the start of the second set. I sharpened up and did what I needed to do.”
“This is the moment I’ve been looking forward to the most. Through the off-season I couldn’t wait to walk out on this beautiful court and play in front of so many people who gives me so much love and support. It’s incredible.” She added.
Barty, who is yet to go beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne, is bidding to become the first Australian player to win a singles title at the tournament since 1978. In the second round she will play either Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson or Slovenia’s Polona Hercog.
Barty’s first round stats
- Aces – 10
- First serves won – 78% (32/41)
- Second serves won – 48% (15/31)
- Winners – 20
- Unforced errors – 30
- break points converted – 7/10