Top-ranked Barty wins 1st title at home ahead of Aussie Open

Top-ranked Ash Barty has fine-tuned for first tennis major of season by winning her first title on home soil with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over . 24-ranked Dayana Yastremska in Saturday's elaide International final.  French Open champion h reached finals in Australia before, finishing runner-up twice at Sydney International after losses to Angelique Kerber in 2018 and to Petra Kvitova last year.

She's w first Australian woman to win a tour-level title at home since 2011. Barty conceded just two points on serve during first set, breaking 19-year-old Yastremska's serve in third and seventh games. Yastremska struggled against Barty's backhand slice and changes of pace and height on ball. Barty broke to open second set but Yastremska rallied to win next three games and h two break point chances in eighth game.

home favourite saved both of those to level at 4-4 and n broke Yastremska's serve in 11th game and served out. “This is incredible. Great start to year,” Barty said. "I definitely feel love out here. I love playing in Australia. I love playing at home. "It was nice to get ball rolling this week — I can't wait to get started in Melbourne on Monday."

Barty's next match will be on Rod Laver Arena on first night of Australian Open against Lesia Tsurenko. Her run to quarterfinals at Melbourne Park last year was Barty's best run yet at her home championship. She followed that up by winning at Roland Garros for her first major title and closed 2019 season with victory in WTA Finals. Yastremska seeded . 23, will face Slovenian qualifier Kaja Juvan in first round.