Top-ranked Ash Barty had a tough opener to her 2022 season, having to rally from a set and a break down to beat 17-year-old American Coco Gauff 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Wednesday in the second round of the Adelaide International.
The Wimbledon champion dropped serve twice in the first set and was 4-2 down, facing another break point, in the second before recovering to win 11 of the last 13 games.
A two-time major winner, Barty is aiming to be the first Australian woman to win her home major since Chris O’Neil in 1978.
Barty reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2020 and the quarterfinals in 2019 and last year.
She had a bye in the first round at Adelaide, one of the main tune-up tournaments for the Australian Open which starts Jan. 17.—AP
