By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, February 6, 2021
Ash Barty banged 11 aces—including two serving out the match—defeating Garbiñe Muguruza 7-6(3), 6-4 to capture her ninth career title in her Yarra Valley Classic comeback event.
Photo credit: Australian Open Facebook
Ashleigh Barty turned Melbourne tune-up tournament into a happy homecoming statement.
Barty banged 11 aces—including two serving out the match—defeating Garbiñe Muguruza 7-6(3), 6-4 to capture her ninth career title in her Yarra Valley Classic comeback tournament at Melbourne Park.
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Playing her first tournament since Doha last February when she beat Muguruza en route to the semifinals, Barty applied her variety, imposed her running forehand and served with authority winning her first title since she ruled Adelaide in 2020.
This clash of the current and former world No. 1 players was a potential preview of the Australian Open final and lived up to its billing with both Grand Slam champions trading deep drives and lead changes.
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Muguruza served for the first set at 5-4 but could not close and was up 4-3 in the second set only to see Barty spot her serve beautifully winning eight of the last nine points played on her serve to close in one hour, 47 minutes.
It's the second year in a row Barty will arrive at the Australian Open fresh off a title triumph.
Last year, Barty advanced to the AO semifinals losing to eventual-champion Sofia Kenin. On Tuesday, Barty will launch her quest to become the first Aussie woman to win the Melbourne major since Chris O'Neil back in 1978 when she faces Danke Kovinic in the opening round.
Meanwhile, Muguruza, who permitted just 10 games en route to today's final including a 6-2, 6-2 sweep of Kenin, should carry plenty of confidence into her opener vs. lucky loser Margarita Gasparyan.
The sixth-seeded Spaniard took the court today seeking her eighth career title and drew first blood breaking in the third game.
Barty curled a crosscourt forehand into the corner breaking back to level after six games. Luring the Spaniard forward with a short slice, Barty looped a lob winner holding for 4-3.
The woman in black saved a break point in the eighth game, jammed Barty with a body serve and held firm to even after eight games.
Moving her serve around the box, Barty kept Muguruza guessing. On break point, a stretched Muguruza wristed back a lunging return then belted a winner down the line breaking again for 5-4.
The 2020 Australian Open finalist served for the set, but was befuddled by Barty’s slice which slithered near the 6' Spaniad's ankles forcing her to generate her own pace from low balls. Muguruza’s shots strayed as Barty broke back for 5-all.
Opening the tiebreaker sliding her sixth ace down the T, Barty lifted her level sparking a fast start to the breaker. Barty burst out to a 4-0 lead controlling rallies with her forehand. Pushing her opponent back, Barty tapped a forehand drop shot winner for set points at 6-2.
On the second set point, Muguruza tried tempting the Aussie with a drop shot of her own. Barty sprinted up to the ball quickly shoveling a forehand into the corner to take a one-set lead after one hour of play.
The top seed’s skill and precision planting her running forehand into the corners was on display during a tense game to start the second set. As a 10-minute game escalated, Barty drained an error converting her third break point to open the second set.
The 2019 Roland Garros champion held onto the break until the sixth game. Muguruza fought off a serve with a deep diagonal return then drew the error to break back.
Timely serving was a key to this match. Muguruza committed her third double fault to face a break point. Barty again used the slice to coax a lunging reply and lashed a forehand down the line breaking for 5-4.
Seeing the finish line, Barty streaked through it slashing a pair of aces and a lob winner to cap her ninth career championship in style.