GET THIS BARTY STARTED

ASHLEIGH Barty is optimistic she can convert a “perfect preparation” into a watershed Australian Open result as the world No.1 bids to end the nation’s 42-year singles title drought in Melbourne.

The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup has eluded Australian players since Chris O’Neil defeated American Betsy Nagelsen in 1978 at Kooyong.

Since then, only Wendy Turnbull in 1980 has advanced to the decider. The Queenslander lost the championship match to Czech Hana

Mandlikova, who later switched to Australian colours.

Triumphant at the Adelaide International, the French Open champion is excited at the prospect of returning to Rod Laver Arena to face Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko.

“Obviously it’s the perfect preparation,” Barty said of her first singles title on Australian soil.

“But regardless of whether I won the title or not last week, I feel like I’m well-prepared.

“I’m happy, I’m healthy. I’m coming into the first grand slam of the year with a smile on my face. That’s all I can ask of myself.

“(It’s) really special to be able to have won a title last week, my first on Australian soil. Third time lucky is a charm as well.”

Barty posted her best Melbourne Park result last season, reaching the quarter-finals before falling to Petra Kvitova. Since then her performances and profile have exploded with titles in Miami, Paris, Birmingham and Shenzhen.

Assured of retaining the world No.1 ranking regardless of Open results, Barty is the first Australian female top seed here since her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley won the 1977 title.

Unlike a year ago, Barty is now the hunted – and also undaunted.

“There’s no extra pressure. I don’t read the papers,” she said.

“I don’t kind of look into any more than I need to.

“I’m here with my team trying to do the best that we can.

“It’s amazing to have so much support and so much love from the Australian public.

“I’ve really felt that in an exceptional way over the last 12 months. It’s been incredible.

“Just pretty excited to get started tomorrow night.”

Barty and Tsurenko share a 1-1 head-to-head record. The Queenslander believes her game is on an upward trajectory after first-round defeat in Brisbane.

“I felt like it got better and better with each match,” Barty said.

“There are still areas of my game that I’m trying to refine, trying to improve, trying to develop every single time I walk out on to the court.

“From where I stand, how we’re reviewing and debriefing last week, it was a great problem-solving week.

“I felt like I worked a lot of things out, I ironed out a few creases.

“Now we’re excited to come in here feeling pretty good.”