Returning to Clay, Ashley Barty wins Charleston’s first win

Nearly two years later, Australian tennis player Ashley Barty returned to clay. And he made it clear on Wednesday that he continues to perform brilliantly on the slowest surface of the circuit. In the US, in his debut at the Charleston tournament, the world No.1 won the Japanese Misaki Doi with 2/0, easily 0 to 2 sets, with 6/2 and 6/1 run.

Barty has not competed on Clay since he won Roland Garros in June 2019. Last year, she preferred to skip several competitions, including the Grand Slam, just because of an epidemic. But this Wednesday he again showed his talent on clay, in preparation for the European tour, which would culminate in the famous French tournament in Paris.

Against the Japanese opponent, Barty needed only 61 minutes to win, on the Green Clay court of the American competition, the level WTA 500. Then, in round 16, the winner of the American duel between ranking leader Shelby will face Rogers and Amanda Anisimova.

Barty was the exception among the top seed heads this Wednesday. Local Sophia Kainin (2nd), Swiss Belinda Benik (5th) and Belgian Alice Mertens (7th) were eliminated in the second round.

Tunisian Ones Jabor (12th), local Kuko Gough (14th) and Russian Veronika Kudermatova (15th) advanced to the bracket. Japanese Kurumi Nara, hosts Katie McNally, Montenegrin Danka Kovinic and Australian Azela Tomjanovic also won.