BARTY THROUGH, BUT DASHA CRASHES

ASHLEIGH Barty has beaten France’s Kristina Mladenovic in straights sets, the Australian advancing to the third round at Britain’s Eastbourne International.

However, the news wasn’t so good for compatriot Daria Gavrilova, the 15th seed falling to Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-0.

Barty came away with the 6-3, 6-2 win in 76 minutes and on the strength of a superior first serve, though the match only featured six aces, four of them the Queenslander’s.

Both women registered five double faults in stark contrast to Gavrilova’s capitulation, in which she failed on both serves 17 times against Radwanska. Petra Kvitova, meanwhile, sent Kateryna Bondarenko packing in straight sets to advance.

The third seed, who won her fifth title of the season on Sunday in Birmingham, triumphed 7-5, 6-3 and looks in fine form ahead of her bid for a third Wimbledon title.

Her career looked seriously in doubt 18 months ago after a knife attack that led to surgery on her playing hand.

“I’m pretty happy with my win today,” Kvitova said.

“Obviously, I’m a little bit tired but I got a hit this morning before the match, a warm-up. The whole tournament [in Birmingham] was more relaxed for me from my side. I felt good with the body, so that’s important.”