Big Bash to big stage, Barty back with Beck win

MELBOURNE, January 16

Ashleigh Barty stunned Australian tennis fans more than two years ago when she turned her back on the sport to play top-level cricket. On Monday, she signalled she was back. The 20-year-old, free of a shoulder injury that forced her out of qualifying for last week’s Hobart tournament, won her first match at the Australian Open at her fourth attempt with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Germany’s Annika Beck.

“It’s nice to finally get that first singles win here,” Barty said. “I think you have to enjoy it. You have to sort of appreciate what you’ve worked for, what you’ve achieved.” Barty, who won a junior Wimbledon title at 15, made three Grand Slam doubles finals with compatriot Casey Dellacqua in 2013 and faced Serena Williams on centre court at Melbourne Park three years ago, gave the game away in late 2014.

It was too much, too fast, she said at the time and wanted to have a normal life for a while, spend time at home with friends and family and play a team sport.

Having impressed in club cricket, she was signed by Brisbane Heat for the inaugural women’s Big Bash Twenty20 competition in November 2015. She scored 39 runs in her first match.

She returned to tennis mid-way through last year, playing lower-level tournaments and attempting to qualify for Wimbledon. Barty won her first match at the Brisbane tournament two weeks ago before losing to world No.1 Angelique Kerber.

On Monday, she showed she was definitely ready with her win over Beck to set up a second round clash with Shelby Rogers after the American upset fourth seed Simona Halep.

“Obviously I’ve developed a lot in the last few years, have matured a lot,” she added. “I’m sort of not a little kid anymore. I know how to prepare a little bit better now.  — Reuters