World number one Ash Barty was plagued by unforced errors but displayed plenty of fight on her return to the WTA Tour, as she rallied from a set down to beat American Coco Gauff 4-6 7-5 6-1 at the Adelaide International on Wednesday.
Barty, the 2020 Adelaide champion, last played competitively at the US Open in September before heading home to Australia and appeared rusty at times in the contest before mounting a brilliant comeback to reach the quarter-finals.
A delicate drop shot from the baseline helped Gauff break for a 2-1 lead in the opening set and although the 17-year-old failed to build on the early advantage, she capitalised on a number of loose errors by Barty to close out the set.
Barty saved four breakpoints in the opening game of the next set before world number 22 Gauff sealed a break to go up 4-2 but the local favourite clawed her way back to force a decider.
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- January 6, 2022
