‘Phenomenal’: Ash Barty sends Australian Open warning with Adelaide International triumph

Ash Barty has tuned up for the Australian Open in style, playing flawless tennis to triumph at the Adelaide International.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 09: Ashleigh Barty of Australia holds the Womens Singles Champion trophy after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during day eight of the 2022 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on January 09, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Ash Barty has issued an ominous warning ahead of the Australian Open, producing a dominant performance to win the Adelaide International.

The world No. 1 was barely troubled in Sunday’s final against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on her way to a 6-3 6-2 victory.

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A ruthless Barty won all three of her break point chances and survived a minor scare in the first set to save break point and stay on serve.

The Australian lost a set in her opening match against American teenager Coco Gauff in a high quality match but she produced flawless tennis from then on to claim her 14th WTA title and second in Adelaide, following her triumph in 2020.

She also defeated 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek and 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin both in straight sets in Adelaide.

The victory is the perfect tune-up for Barty ahead of the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.

In a warning to rivals, former Wimbledon semi-finalist Jelena Dokic said it was best she had seen Barty play early in the year.

“This is the best, to me, that she’s looked, going in to the Australian Open,” Dokic said on Channel 9.

Ash Barty was on fire at the Adelaide International. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP)

“She’s looking confident, she’s looking sharp, she’s looking fitter than ever. The serve, an improvement has been made.”

Dokic said Barty’s decision to end her 2021 season early to return to Australia freshened her up and is paying off.

“She was on the road for eight months last year,” she said.

“She left in March, she came back end of October. And I think the break she had in Australia, she spent time with her nieces, her dogs. She loves that.

“She did a really good pre-season. I think that’s helped her so much. She got that confidence from winning Wimbledon. That’s just huge.

“It’s as good as I’ve seen her early in the year. She’s been phenomenal this week.”

Barty completed the perfect campaign in Adelaide by also winning the doubles title alongside fellow Australian Storm Sanders on Sunday night.

The pair defeated Nadiia Kichenok and Sania Mirza 6-1 2-6 (10-8).