Hadlee cancer fight

AUSTRALIA’S No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has marched into the second round of the Nottingham Open with a straight- sets victory over Stefanie Voegele.

Barty, the top seed at the English grass- court tournament, stepped up her build- up to Wimbledon with a powerful display to beat her Swiss opponent 6- 3 6- 3. A two- time quarter- finalist at the event, Barty used her trademark slice to good effect to set up a first meeting with big- serving Duan Yingying of China in the round of 16.

Barty has made no secret of her eagerness to return to the lawns and revealed she has already taken the opportunity to try a hitout at Wimbledon since arriving from Paris. The 22- year- old, who took Serena Williams to three sets in the French Open at Roland Garros, admitted she was delighted with her opening victory in Nottingham. NEW Zealand’s leading Test wicket- taker Sir Richard Hadlee has had surgery for bowel cancer and will have follow- up chemotherapy treatment.

The 66- year- old Hadlee ( left), who is considered one of the finest fast bowlers of all time having retired in 1990 with 431 Test wickets, had surgery after a tumour was discovered in a routine check- up.

“This operation went extremely well and he has made an excellent recovery from surgery,” his wife Dianne said in a statement.

“As a safeguard, further treatment in the form of chemotherapy will commence shortly and last for a few months.”