Ash Barty opens up on agonising COVID-19 decision

Aussie tennis star Ash Barty has explained why she couldn’t defend the biggest win of her career as Australian Open prep ramps up.

Aussie fans are hoping the Barty Party rolls on.

Ash Barty and Naomi Osaka made successful returns after long lay-offs on 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.

Watch over 40 live ATP Tour tournaments, 40 live WTA Tour tournaments, and every ATP + WTA Finals match live with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

The Australian played her first tournament in 11 months after opting to remain home in Queensland during the pandemic, even making the agonising decision not to defend her French Open crown — a call she admits took a lot of consideration.

“I’ve missed coming out here competing but I felt great tonight,” Barty said. “I missed it a lot. I wrestled with the decision in my head for quite a while.

“For me, my health had to be prioritised first and foremost, not only for me, but for my family and it just shows how tough it can be.

“I’m grateful to be here and I’m exceptionally proud to be an Aussie and to be out on this beautiful court again.”

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 No. 52 Marie Bouzkova next as she continues her preparations in the hope of holding up a trophy on Rod Laver Arena later this month.

“I’d be extremely fortunate to be in the position to be in another slam final,” Barty said. “That’s what we work for, why we do all the work through the pre-season, eat all our green beans, do all the right things to try and get to that point where we have an opportunity to win big titles.”

RELATED: Barty puts whingeing tennis stars to shame

RELATED: Damning video exposes Bernard Tomic

The Aussie looks in good touch heading into her home slam.

Meanwhile, Osaka made 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.

“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.

Earlier, defending Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin’s long-awaited return to Melbourne Park was brief after her Italian opponent Camila Giorgi retired injured after one set at the Yarra Valley Classic.

The 22-year-old was back at the scene of her stunning breakthrough grand slam title last year, where she beat Garbine Muguruza in three sets.

Can Sofia Kenin defend her crown?

But it was a short stay on Margaret Court Arena with the 76th-ranked Giorgi retiring because of a thigh injury after Kenin clinched a tight first set 7-5.

“I’m happy with the win, the way I played,” she said. “I started off pretty good … just made a little bit too many unforced errors.”

The American was upset in the quarter-finals of the season-opening event in Abu Dhabi last month by Greece’s Maria Sakkari, ranked 22nd in the world.

Kenin reeled off three straight games to start the match before going off the boil as Giorgi went 4-3 ahead.

Kenin regrouped before Giorgi called for medical attention at the end of the set and retired.

The Moscow-born Kenin emerged as a serious force in last year’s truncated circuit, also reaching the French Open final and rising to a career-high fourth in the world rankings. She plays fellow American Jessica Pegula next.

French Open champion Iga Swiatek also emerged victorious after recovering from a slow start to down Kaja Juvan 2-6 6-2 6-1.

Barty, Osaka, Kenin and world No. 2 Simona Halep will all be in action on Wednesday.