First night match on Rod Laver Arena featuring the world number one against a former #23, now ranked outside the top 100.
Tsurenko had only made it once past the second round in the AO, and that was in 2013.
Barty had made the quarters for the past three years, and was beaten in the 2020 semis by the eventual winner.
The players had met three times before this match, and Barty won the last two, most recently the first round of the 2020 AO where she came from a set down to win.
Barty served first and held comfortably. Loose shots from Tsurenko, and the slice from Barty set up an early break. 2-0.
The #1 missed with most of her first serves in game three, and had to save two break points. She did, one with an ace.
Tsurenko faced a break point in the fourth game and a second serve was punished - Barty led 4-0.
An easier hold this time and 5-0.
Tsurenko saved one set point but couldn’t avoid a white wash. Barty took the set 6-0.
Although Tsurenko began to be more competitive in some rallies, she was broken in the second game of set two and trailed 0-2.
Barty remained untroubled on serve, and extended the Ukraine pain 3-0.
A return winner from Barty brought up two break points, and the first one was converted for 4-0.
At 30-30, Barty delivered a second serve ace, then a surprise drop shot. 5-0.
Serving to stay a little bit longer on court, Tsurenko led 30-0, but eventually Barty had match point. It was saved. Another match point was also saved and Tsurenko held serve to finally put a score on the board.
Barty served it out 6-0 6-1 in less than an hour.
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