Ash Barty fit and refreshed for first serve at Adelaide International

Ash Barty arrived in Adelaide on Sunday night feeling physically and mentally refreshed.

Ash Barty signs autographs following the doubles final at the Brisbane International. Picture: AAP

Ash Barty arrived in Adelaide on Sunday night feeling physically and mentally refreshed as she continues her preparation for the Australian Open beginning next week.

The world No 1 is the top seed in the Adelaide International and is hoping for a better result after ­losing her opening singles match in Brisbane in the first week of the 2020 season.

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Although beaten in the women’s doubles final at the Brisbane International on Sunday, the reigning French Open champion was in good spirits throughout a highly entertaining match.

In a clash that pitted the singles world No 1 Barty against the world No 1 in doubles, Barbora Strycova, it was the Czech veteran who emerged successful.

Strycova and partner Su-Wei Hsieh, who is coached by Paul McNamee, edged the Queenslander and her partner Kiki Bertens 3-6 7-6 (7) 10-8.

“(It was only) a couple of points here and there,” Barty said.

“(We) created an opportunity with a match point in the second (set) but weren’t able to take it. They played a great point. And … that’s the beauty of the beast in this kind of format.

“It’s kind of on a knife’s edge. It can change really quickly.”

The presence of Barty ensured a near capacity crowd for the women’s doubles decider, which preceded Karolina Pliskova’s victory over Madison Keys in the ­singles competition.

“First and foremost, I make sure that I play with people who I enjoy spending time with, who are good friends of mine, and Kiki, obviously, is a class doubles player, a good friend, and it’s obviously just nice to get a few matches because you can’t replicate what you get under pressure,” she said.

“You can’t replicate kind of that last 30 or 40 minutes of that match in practice and … it’s nice to get (that) early in the season in, particular, but I crave it. I love it.”

Barty had pledged to donate all of her prizemoney from the Brisbane International tournament to the fundraising effort for bushfire charities, and will contribute nearly $70,000.

Serena Williams donated a similar amount after winning in Auckland on Sunday, her first title in three years, and at the same time seized favouritism for the Australian Open.

The American champion, who will be seeking a 24th grand slam success in Melbourne, also put up for auction the dress she wore in the final, in which she defeated Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-4.

In a sign of her remarkable longevity, the 38-year-old has now won a WTA Tour title in four different decades.

Barty, meanwhile, is looking forward to playing her first tennis match in Adelaide at the recently revamped Memorial Drive.

The only competitive sport the 23-year-old has played in the South Australian capital occurred when she played cricket for Brisbane Heat and Queensland.

Securing time on court will be a key for Barty after she was beaten by American Jennifer Brady in her opening singles match of the season last Thursday.

The reigning WTA Tour Finals champion will play the winner of a clash between Anastasia Pavyluchenkova and Anett Kontaviet in a strong field.

Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, who is coached by South Australian Darren Cahill, makes her 2020 debut in Adelaide and is the second seed.

Barty will partner German Julia Georges in doubles at the Australian Open and believes the discipline benefits her singles.

“Doubles has always helped my singles and vice versa throughout my whole career,” she said.

“I love doubles and I love how it changes the geometry of the court and you have to understand the court differently, and it presents different challenges.

“And I like the way that it challenges me and it tests me to bring out all different phases and different parts of my game.”