WTA Melbourne: Ashleigh Barty wins final against Garbine Muguruza
Ashleigh Barty has returned to the tennis circus after her almost one year break with a tournament victory: The Australian world number one won the final of the Yarra Valley Classic in Melbourne against Garbine Muguruza 7: 6 (3) and 6: 4.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Feb 07, 2021, 05:39 am
It cannot be assumed that Ashleigh Barty, like Nick Kyrgios, did not attack her tennis racket for months. On a professional level, however, the Australian had not shown up after the Corona break. Until the Yarra Valley Classic in Melbourne this week. And then Barty won the title with a 7: 6 (3) and 6: 4 against Garbine Muguruza, the ninth of her career. Barty also celebrated an early tournament victory in Adelaide last year, but had to admit defeat to Sofia Kenin in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.
"It was probably the best tennis I played during the week," said Barty after her triumph. "Garbine made me play my best tennis. It was a great final." Barty scored 28 winning strokes in her victory, exactly twice as many as Muguruza.
At the Australian Open that starts on Monday, Barty is in first place, she will meet Danka Kovinic from Montenegro at the start. Muguruza, who reached the final in the first major of the year in 2020, opened against Margarita Gasparyan from Russia.
Elise Mertens struck the Gippsland Trophy taking place at the same time: the Belgian won the final against Kaia Kanepi 6: 4 and 6: 1.