Three years to the day since she became Wimbledon ladies singles champion, Ash Barty has made a hit-and-giggle, winning return to Centre Court -- and loved every minute of her anniversary comeback.
With cruel irony, it was her compatriot Alex de Minaur's hip-injury withdrawal from his quarter-final match with Novak Djokovic that ensured Australia's 2021 winner Barty was asked to step in and bring a touch of star quality to help fill the void on the main stage on Wednesday.
Playing alongside her best mate Casey Dallacqua in the legends' invitation doubles, Barty could not have looked happier, mixing missed easy volleys and ballooned forehands while also providing just a few tantalising glimpses of the quality we've all really been missing in her absence.
