Australian Open: Barty, Osaka Back to Winning Ways

Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka made successful returns after long layoffs Tuesday, fine-tuning their preparations ahead of the Australian Open.

In the night match, world No. 1 Barty showed little rust to comfortably beat Ana Bogdan 6-3, 6-3 in the Yarra Valley Classic.

"I've missed coming out here competing but I felt great tonight," she said.

The Melbourne summer is set to begin for @ashbarty ? pic.twitter.com/JaR4DPbEc3

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2021

The Australian played her first tournament in 11 months after opting to remain home in relatively Covid-19 free Queensland during the pandemic and even decided against defending her French Open crown.

Barty, hoping to break her country's 43-year singles title drought at the Australian Open, was made to work early before pouncing on Bogdan's tentative serve and she proved far too consistent for the Romanian.

The 24-year-old plays world number 52 Marie Bouzkova next.

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Osaka made similarly light work of France's Alize Cornet in the Japanese star's first competitive match since winning the US Open for a second time.

The three-time Grand Slam champion hit 22 winners to move into the third round of the Gippsland Trophy with a 6-2, 6-2 victory in Melbourne.

"I haven't played a match since the final in New York, I was definitely really nervous going into it," said Osaka, who won the Australian Open in 2019.

Melbourne, make some noise for @naomiosaka ? ?#AusOpen | #AO2021

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 2, 2021

"But I'm really happy with how positive I was throughout the match."

It was an impressive performance from Osaka, who had few problems against Cornet in her first encounter with the French veteran.

Osaka plays Katie Boulter in the next round after the British woman knocked out teenage sensation Coco Gauff 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in one hour and 43 minutes.

After a tough opening victory over Jil Teichmann, the 16-year-old American started strongly before fading in her second match in consecutive days.