ASH Barty has achieved a first today – taking out a singles title in her home country. After coming close on a number of occasions including runners-up in Sydney the last two years, she went one better against up-and-coming Ukrainian talent, Dayana Yastremska 6-2 7-5 in just under 90 minutes.

FOR MORE ATP TOUR AND WTA TOUR TENNIS CONTENT, JOIN OUR TENNIS CENTRAL FACEBOOK GROUP

The world number one has not been at her best during the summer thus far, but produced a vintage performance in the final, showing all her class and skill against one of the next big thing’s in women’s tennis. Barty produced less aces than her previous matches – just four to her name – but was far more consistent with her serve, winning 75 per cent of her first serve points and 63.6 per cent on her second serve. She also saved two of a possible three break point opportunities, while capitalising on four from 11 herself.

It was not just on-serve where she impressed, controlling her opponent’s serve to win half of Yastremska’s second serve points and still 44.4 per cent of her first serve. The win meant Barty was able to recover some of the points she lost from falling out in the first round at Brisbane a week earlier. Now Australia’s best chance at winning a home Grand Slam in 45 years begins her Melbourne Park Grand Slam against another Ukrainian in Lesia Tsurenko, while Yastremska takes on Slovenian qualifier, Kaja Juvan.

In the doubles final yesterday, number one seeds, China’s Xu Yifan and United States’ Nicole Melichar getting up in a tight one, winning 2-6 7-5 10-5 against third seeds Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski and Croatian Darija Jurak.