Ash Barty eases back into competition at Birmingham after French Open triumph

Just eight days after her momentous victory at Roland Garros, Ash Barty has returned to the court and there’s a huge prize at stake.

Ash Barty serves during her first-round match in Birmingham.

Eight days after lifting the French Open crown, Ashleigh Barty has made a low key — and successful — return to competition.

The world No 2 partnered German Julia Goerges to a 6-3 6-4 first-round doubles win at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham over American Kaitlyn Christian and Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic.

Preparing to face in-form Croat Donna Vekic in singles, Barty showed no residual hangover from Roland Garros victory.

Barty could overhaul Japan’s Naomi Osaka as world No 1 if results fall the Queenslander’s way this week.

Ash Barty returned to competition after her French Open win.

It seems the Australian’s victory in Paris was not to everyone’s liking however with for men’s top 10 player Ion Tiriac saying the French Open women’s final was the “poorest” decider he has seen.

“The Roland Garros women’s final was one of the poorest I’ve ever seen,” he told the Romanian media.

“Please excuse my sincerity. It was not one that excited me. I had to go after four games. I did it.”

His feelings were no echoed by Martina Navratilova who rates Barty as the best athlete in tennis, armed with more options than any other player while nominating the Queenslander “very tough to beat at Wimbledon” next month.

The winner of 18 majors, including nine at the All England Club, Navratilova says Barty can extend her grand slam spree and emulate Serena Williams’ 2015 French Open-Wimbledon double – with a caveat.

Navratilova said the Queenslander must not succumb to obliging too many off-court requests as sponsors and media latch onto Barty’s mesmeric game and sparkling personality.

The new world number two enjoyed a straightforward win.

“The only danger, I would suggest, is that she may spread herself too thin over the next three weeks before Wimbledon,” Navratilova wrote in her latest wtatennis.com column.

“There are going to be plenty of media and other requests and she needs to learn how to say no.

“When you have a big win like this, you need to say no more than you say yes.”

Navratilova said Barty’s earthiness is an asset as global attention intensifies on the sport’s newest star.

“There’s no danger of Ashleigh Barty’s head getting too big between now and Wimbledon, with her game even better suited to the grass than to the clay of Roland Garros,” Navratilova said.

“That’s just not who she is - even after winning her first grand slam singles title at the French Open, I’m sure she will still be as down to earth as she always has been. Barty’s not about to change just because she won a major.”

Meanwhile, Ajla Tomljanovic continued her excellent season with a 6-2, 7-5 victory in Mallorca over Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig.

The Australian’s victory compensated for Astra Sharma’s 6-2, 6-1 defeat to American Lauren Davis in Birmingham.

Perth’s Matt Ebden fell 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to Moldovan Radu Albot in Halle, Germany.

Ash Barty defeated Julia Goerges of Germany in two sets.