Top-ranked Ash Barty won her first clay match in two years in Charleston on Wednesday, easing past Japan’s Misaki Doi 6-2, 6-1 in the WTA’s Volvo Car Open.
Barty, fresh off her win in Miami, looked in good shape as she moved bot the clay season.
“There was an adjustment period, without a doubt,” Barty said.
“It was a very quick turnaround from Miami, just had a couple of hours of practice. I was, honestly, just hoping I didn’t trip and fall over trying to slide. But it came back quite naturally. So really happy to be back here, particularly in Charleston, but back on clay.”
Others did not go so well on the clay surface. Second seed Sofia Kenin lost to fellow American Lauren Davis 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
No.5 seed Belinda Bencic lost in three sets to Spain’s Paula Badosa, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-1 and No.7 seed Elise Mertens fell to Alize Cornet 7-5, 6-3.
Coco Gauff fared better, beating Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
The Volvo Car Open was cancelled in 2020 due to the covid pandemic.
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