Ash Barty continues her Australian Open preparation with win over American Shelby Rogers

Australia’s Ash Barty has beaten American Shelby Rogers to advance to the semi-finals of the Yarra Valley Open warm-up event for the Australian Open, but only after being taken to a decisive super tie-break.

Organisers approved a 10-point super tie-break to replace third sets in women’s matches, after a positive COVID-19 test for a hotel quarantine worker forced the cancellation of matches at Australian Open warm-up events on Thursday.

Games resumed on Friday following more than 500 negative COVID test results for players and their entourage.

The women’s world number one Barty was first-up at Margaret Court Arena, and she tested out the new rules, beating world number 60 Rogers 7-5, 2-6, (10-4).

Barty broke Rogers’ serve to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set, and looked in control of the match when she raced out to 5-2.

Rogers raised the pressure, hitting an off-forehand winner and then forcing a Barty error to keep the set alive.

The momentum then changed as the American picked up three break points in the eighth game, and after a rally a Barty error handed a break back to Rogers for 5-4. She held serve to level at 5-5, but Barty produced two aces to hold in the eleventh game.

A tie-break looked on the cards, but two double faults from Rogers saw Barty take the set 7-5 in 43 minutes.

The second set was a different story — the key game was a marathon effort that went for nearly 10 minutes, with Rogers holding her nerve and ultimately the game to make it 2-2.

Her confidence high, the American swept through the next four games to win the set 6-2 and level the match.

Barty then stepped things up in the super tie-break. The first two points went on serve, before the Australian reeled off five straight points to get to 6-1.

A double fault from Rogers made it 8-3, and although the American managed to save one match point for 9-4, Barty quickly wrapped things up in one hour and 32 minutes.

Barty will next play the winner of another quarter-final between Danielle Collins and Serena Williams.

Kyrgios out in straight sets, Thompson progresses

Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios was knocked out of the Murray River Open in straight sets by number four seed, Borna Ćorić, 6-3, 6-4.

Kyrgios clearly struggled with his left knee, calling for the trainer at the end of the first set in what are worrying signs ahead of Monday’s Australian Open start.

Aside from his powerful first serve, Kyrgios rarely troubled his Croatian opponent with his groundstrokes, as he looked to limit his movement with an eye to next week’s Open.

Clearly frustrated by the injury, Kyrgios demolished his racquet after being broken in the second set, throwing the shattered item into the empty stands.

In the other of the men’s warm-up events, the Great Ocean Road Open, Australia’s Jordan Thompson moved into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Spain’s Mario Vilella Martinez.

The 11th seed, ranked number 52 in the world, defeated Vilella Martinez 6-4, 6-4 in one hour 24 minutes.

Thompson saved eight break points on his own serve, and converted two of seven opportunities to break the Spaniard.