(FILA Luxembourg S.à r.l.) - After nearly a year’s hiatus from competitive play, World No. 1 and FILA-sponsored player Ash Barty made a triumphant return to the WTA Tour with a victory this past weekend at the Yarra Valley Classic. The 24-year-old Aussie made an immediate splash at the Melbourne Summer Series with a straight-sets win in the final over Spaniard Garbiñe Muguruza, 7-6(3), 6-4.
"It was some of the better tennis I played throughout the whole week," Barty told the WTA in her post-match press conference. "Garbiñe forced me to play at that level. It was a great final."
Barty’s ninth career singles title came in front of a home crowd as professional tennis gears up for the Australian Open, which is now underway. In her first tournament since Doha 2020, Barty defeated Romanian Ana Bogdan, Czech Marie Bouzkova and American Shelby Rogers, before earning a walkover into the final when Serena Williams withdrew from their semifinal match.
Barty will begin her quest for her home Slam with a first round match-up against unseeded Danka Kovinić on Tuesday (Australia time).
In other Tour action this weekend, rising American Brandon Nakashima captured his second career ATP Challenger Title with a victory at Quimper, making him the youngest American to win multiple ATP Challenger titles since Frances Tiafoe in 2016.