30 May 2013 | Tennis Queensland

Exciting Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty won her first grand slam match with an upset victory over big-hitting Czech Lucie Hradecka on Wednesday.

Barty, who turned 17 last month, overcame the world No.82 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 to break through to a Grand Slam Round 2 later tonight.

She entered the tournament as Tennis Australia’s reciprocal wildcard and is now the third Australian to win in the first round, joining Queensland’s Sam Stosur and fellow wildcard Nick Krygios (ACT). Krygios has since been knocked out by 10th seed Marin Cilic in a straight sets loss 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Barty, ranked 183rd, had previously failed to win a match in five grand slams. But she put the experience gained to great use in her match against Hradecka, which had been held over by a day due to a rain delay.

It had been a case of missed opportunities in the first set before Barty eventually clinched it. Both players traded breaks for most of the set and the Australian wasted a handful of game points to build a two-game buffer.

But she kept focused and took the advantage when she converted her fifth set point on Hradecka’s serve.

The Czech lifted her game in the second but the third set was all Barty. She nullified her opponent’s power with smart play and she raced to the biggest victory of her career, pumping her first in delight.

Barty came into the event feeling more comfortable in her surroundings and hopeful of making an impact with the benefit of a full grand slam cycle under her belt.

She also took plenty of confidence from a Fed Cup victory over world No.58 Stefanie Voegele on clay in Switzerland last month.

Barty will take the court again tonight playing Russian 12th seed Maria Kirilenko, with the full support of Australian tennis fans to back her new found confidence.