Australia’s Ashleigh Barty starts her quest to win her home major tonight at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne when she takes on Lesia Tsurenko. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the action from 7pm (AEDT).
After a long break and an early-season tournament win in Adelaide, World No.1 Barty will go into her first round match with Ukrainian Tsurenko full of confidence.
Barty was impressive during the first WTA event of the year in the city of churches, notching consecutive wins against Coco Gauff, Sofia Kenin, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina. If anything, Barty’s game may have gone up a notch, with her serve looking even stronger than last season.
Tsurenko is a veteran of the WTA tour and is currently ranked 120. She has come through qualifying in Melbourne so is already match hardened.
Prior to that, she bowed out of the Melbourne Summer Set 2 in the second round of qualifying.
Interestingly enough, Barty only leads the head to head 2-1, although the matches have been played over eight years. Their last meeting was in Melbourne in the first round in 2020, where Barty prevailed after losing the first set.
Prediction:
Barty continues to improve her game and is a much better player than she was even two years ago.
First rounds are always potential banana skins for high seeds but I can’t see any upset eventuating here.
Ash Barty in straight sets.
Venue: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Start Time: 7.00pm (AEDT)
TV/Stream: Channel 9, 9Now, Stan Sport
Betting: Barty: $1.01; Tsurenko: $15.75 (odds via PlayUp)
David Holden
Roar Guru
Thanks Monorchid. Hope to do plenty of calls over the next few weeks
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ash Barty has got her Australian Open campaign off to a perfect start with a 6-0 6-1 win over Lesia Tsurenko. It was far from perfect from Barty but she wouldn't want to start the tournament any other way. She controlled the majority of points and moved Tsurenko around nicely. Her forehand was strong as always and would have contributed the majority of her 14 winners. She will take on Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti in the second round
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
You know DH, given the 1000s of posts by Roarers about Dropinaditch or Pullaswitch (I'm hopeless with names), I would have thought that more would have followed your call for the Barty match. Great call David. I hope you do more calls during the AO.
David Holden
Roar Guru
ASH BARTY DEFEATS LESIA TSURENKO 6-0 6-1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Serve down the T and Barty wins comfortably
David Holden
Roar Guru
Barty nets the backhand. 40-30
David Holden
Roar Guru
Barty sends her forehand long. 40-15
David Holden
Roar Guru
Serve down the T brings up 3 match points
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsurenko's backhand misses the baseline. 30-0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great rally again and Barty prevails. 15-0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Serve draws the error and Tsurenko is on the board Barty 6 5 Tsurenko 0 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Big forehand winner from Tsurenko and she has game point
David Holden
Roar Guru
Barty gets crowded and the forehand is wide.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Rally of the match and another Match Point
David Holden
Roar Guru
Barty nets the forehand return. Deuce
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
Great to see you doing this commentary DH. And not a mention of, of, of?. Oh it doesn't matter. I'm watching where the score has Barty looking like winning two sets with Tsurenko serving. Predict a Barty win here.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great forehand return brings up match point. 30-40
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand crosscourt winner from Barty. 30-30
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tsurenko catches the tape with her backhand. 30-15
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great backhand winner from Tsurenko. 30-0