Australian Open: Ash Barty downplays fitness worries after surviving Daria Gavrilova scare

World No 1 Ash Barty is through to the third round at Melbourne Park after defeating compatriot Daria Gavrilova for the fourth time from five outings.

Ash Barty hits a backhand return against Daria Gavrilova on Thursday

Ash Barty has played down injury concerns despite sporting a heavily-bandaged thigh during her 6-1 7-6 (7) triumph over fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova on Thursday.

The impact of the hard grind of returning to competition after almost a year on the sidelines has taken its toll on Barty, who will play talented Czech Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

The world No 1, who is also scheduled to play a second-round doubles match on Friday with new partner Jennifer Brady, said she was suffering from general soreness and it had not hindered her during the match.

She did, however, slam the thigh muscle twice with her racquet in clear frustration after allowing Gavrilova back into the second set from a 2-5 deficit.

“It’s not a very subtle tape job. You often see it on a lot of the girls. The guys can hide it beneath their shorts a little bit better,” she said.

“(It is) just a little bit of support. I played a lot of matches in the last 10 days after not playing for 12 months, which is natural.

“It came on early (on) Tuesday (when I was) warming up for the match. But obviously it’s not affecting the way that I can play in any way.

“It’s just more giving the leg some assistance to make sure it doesn’t get to a point where it’s going to affect me. I am as fit as a fiddle. I am good to go. General soreness is good.”

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The 2019 Roland Garros champion does not know a lot about Alexandrova, who has made good progress in the rankings over the past two years to earn a seeding at Melbourne Park this year.

The 26-year-old, who made the third round at the Australian and French Opens last year, was impressive in a lead-in event at Melbourne Park last week.

She posted dominant wins over reigning French Open champion Iga Swiatek and also the most recent Wimbledon winner in Simona Halep before falling to Kaia Kanepi, who ousted reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3 6-2 on Thursday.

“I’ve never hit with her. That’s a new one for me,” she said.

“I think that’s the time for Tyzz (coach Craig Tyzzer) and I to sit down and do our homework. Tyzz is extremely diligent with all the work that he does. He’s the best in the business. I’m very fortunate to have him in my corner.

“We’ll kind of sit down and … try and work out a game plan as best that we can. Then it’s about, I suppose, the challenge of now having someone that I haven’t played against that I can go out there and test myself against.

“She’s obviously playing some very good tennis, had a great week last week as well. Certainly has got her foot firmly set in the season, is going ahead well.”

A couple of hours before Barty tackled Gavrilova, the pair warmed up on the same court at Medlbourne Park, with photographers capturing an image of them side-by-side, their service actions in unison.

If synchronized tennis was a sport...

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It was effectively the only moment on Thursday where they were level, despite the challenge Gavrilova provided in the second set when holding points to force a decider.

Although Barty was not as dominant against her compatriot as she was when she walloped Danka Kovinic on Tuesday 6-0 6-0. In that match she won 50 of the 60 points played.

The opening game of her match against Gavrilova was the first she had lost for the tournament.

It was only moments before she was back on an even keel and then the world No 1 raced away with the opening set in 27 minutes.

Gavrilova, who is on the comeback trail from major injuries and is showing promising signs, secured an early break at the start of the second set and pressed Barty the further the match went.

“It is so nice to see her back. She has had a tricky run with injury over the last 18 months,” Barty said.

“When you play a compatriot … the rankings go out the window, the experience goes out the window.”