Although Ash Barty is not taking to the court at the Australian Open this year, her presence is still being felt at Melbourne Park.
Barty – who won last year's Australian Open before shocking the tennis world with her retirement only months later – is mentoring Olivia Gadecki and the relationship is paying off handsomely for the young Australian.
The 199th-ranked Gadecki defeated Russian Polina Kudermetova 7-5, 6-1 in her major championship singles debut, the convincing victory thrilling the parochial crowd out on court eight.
