WORLD number one Ash Barty produced a strong comeback to put away teenage prodigy Coco Gauff in three sets at the Adelaide International last night. In one of the matches of the day, Gauff took the first set against the rusty Australian, and went 4-2 up seemingly set to advance to the quarter finals. Instead, Barty had other ideas, breaking back then winning 11 of the next 13 games to storm to a 4-6 7-5 6-1 victory in two hours and 12 minutes.

It had been a long few months since last competing at the US Open back in October, and Barty said it was great to get back out on the court despite not being quite perfect just yet.

“[In the first set] I was able to create opportunities but just was a little bit slack on the execution, rusty in the sense of stringing quality points together,” she said post-match. “I felt like I would play two or three good ones and then give away two or three cheapies quite quickly, which comes with match practice.

“Midway through the second set I was able to find my rhythm a little bit better on serve and just continued to be aggressive on my forehand. “I just found execution a little bit more. “Serving getting a little bit better, getting a few more cheapies, allowed me to play with a little bit more freedom towards the end of the second set and the start of the third.

“I think it was all in all a good progression. “Work to do, without a doubt, but very happy with the level that we started the year with.”

Barty now advances to the quarter finals where she will take on the winner of tonight’s clash between compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic, or Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin.

ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

WTA 500:

[1] Ash Barty (AUS) defeated Coco Gauff (USA) 4-6 7-5 6-1
Kaja Juvan (SLO) defeated [2] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 7-6 6-1
Shelby Rogers (USA) defeated [3] Maria Sakkari (GRE) 7-6 2-6 6-4
[7] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) defeated Marie Bouzkova (CZE) 6-3 6-4

ATP 250:

[3] Marin Cilic (CRO) defeated Thiago Monteiro (BRA) 6-4 7-6
[WC] Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) defeated [4] Frances Tiafoe (USA) 3-6 7-5 6-1
[7] Laslo Djere (SRB) defeated Corentin Moutet (FRA) 4-6 7-5 DEFAULTED
Mikael Ymer (SWE) defeated [8] Soonwoo Kwon (KOR) 6-3 6-2

MATCHES TO WATCH TODAY:

[5] Iga Swiatek (CAN) vs. Leylah Fernandez (CAN)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. [WC] Priscilla Hon (AUS)
[1] Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) vs. [6] Sofia Kenin (USA)

MELBOURNE SUMMER SET

WTA 250 (1):

[2] Simona Halep (ROU) defeated Destanee Aiava (AUS) 6-4 6-2
[3] Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) defeated Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) 7-6 7-6
Anna Bondar (HUN) defeated [8] Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 7-5 7-6
Madison Brengle (USA) defeated Nao Hibino (JPN) 7-6 7-6
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove (NED) defeated Seone Mendez (AUS) 6-3 6-4
Clara Burel (FRA) defeated Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-3 7-6
Anastasia Potapova (RUS) defeated Lizette Cabrera (AUS) 5-7 6-2 6-2
Qinwen Zheng (CHN) defeated Mai Hontama (JPN) 4-6 6-2 6-3

WTA 250 (2):

[3] Daria Kasatkina (RUS) defeated Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) 6-1 3-0 RET
Claire Liu (USA) defeated [8] Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 4-6 6-4 6-3
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) defeated Xinyu Wang (CHN) 6-4 6-2
Kamilla Rakhimova (RUS) defeated Greet Minnen (BEL) 7-5 7-5
Lin Zhu (CHN) defeated Samantha Stosur (AUS) 7-6 7-6
Rebecca Peterson (SWE) defeated Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-1 3-6 6-2
Madison Keys (USA) defeated Harriet Dart (GBR) 6-3 7-6
Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) defeated Ellen Perez (AUS) 6-0 6-3

ATP 250:

[LL] Henri Laaksonen (SUI) defeated [5] Benoit Paire (FRA) 4-6 6-3 5-2 RET
[Q] Ricardas Berankis (LTU) defeated Marcos Giron (USA) 7-5 6-4
[Q] Maxime Cressy (USA) defeated [Q] Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 6-3 6-0
Alex Molcan (SVK) defeated [Q] Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-4 6-7 6-3
Jaume Munar (ESP) defeated Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-4 6-4
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) defeated Stefano Travaglia (ITA) 7-6 6-3
Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) defeated [LL] Sebastian Baez (ARG) 7-6 6-1
Jordan Thompson (AUS) defeated [WC] Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 1-6 7-5 6-4

MATCHES TO WATCH TODAY:

[6] Clara Tauson (DEN) vs. Lin Zhu (CHN)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) vs. Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN)
[1] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
[1] Naomi Osaka (JPN) vs. Maryna Zanevska (BEL)