8 June 2016 | Tennis Queensland

After switching sports and playing Twenty20 cricket for the Brisbane Heat in the women’s Big Bash League over summer, Ash Barty is showing sure signs that her return to tennis is well and truly on track.

The junior Wimbledon champion and three-time grand slam doubles finalist is making her presence felt since her return to tennis in February.

At Eastbourne last week the 20-year-old swept through qualifying, winning three matches against top-300-ranked players to reach the main draw.

Barty then triumphed over former world No.5 Daniela Hantuchova and Austrian world No.122 Tamira Paszek before losing in the semi final against top seed, and world No.94, Alison Riske of the USA.

Barty has since backed up her loss by heading straight to the grasscourt Nottingham Open tournament.

In the first round, Barty chalked up a morale-boosting win over China’s Peng Shuai, defeating Peng – a player ranked 358 places above her – and wrapped up a 6-3 6-2 victory in one hour, 10 minutes.

Barty who is only improving as she continues now faces Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic in the second round.