Aussie women charge to glory

ASH Barty has led Australia’s Wimbledon charge into the second round, banishing grim personal memories of 2017.

The 17th seed registered her maiden career win in open competition at the All England Club as Daria Gavrilova and Sam Stosur also surged into the round of 64.

A year after the trio suffered first-round defeat here, it was a vastly different tale in perfect sunshine on the manicured lawns. Barty swamped Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele with seven aces and 33 winners during an impressive performance, triumphing 7-5, 6-3.

And Stosur and Gavrilova thundered into a secondround showdown with straight-sets wins.

Gavrilova mauled American lucky loser Caroline Dolehide 6-2, 6-3, punching 11 winners and three aces to post her first victory here since 2016. And a month after plunging out of the top 100, former world No. 4 Stosur’s ranking rebuild continued with a 6-4, 7-5 success over China’s Peng Shuai.

Sluggish to start, Barty dropped serve twice in the first set but pulled it from the fire as Voegele tightened.

A former junior champion here, Barty has been on fire during the British grass court season, lifting the Nottingham title with what she terms “statement” tennis.

And she did so emphatically again against Voegele, raising her game as the contest wore on, sealing victory with an ace.

Gavrilova scarcely gave Dolehide a chance, offering no break points in 67 minutes.