Ash Barty beats Garbiñe Muguruza to win Yarra Valley Classic on Australian Open eve

World number one Ash Barty has concluded her Australian Open preparations on a triumphant note following a straight-sets defeat of two-time major winner Garbiñe Muguruza in the Yarra Valley Classic final at Melbourne Park.

In front of a sparse crowd under the roof on Margaret Court Arena, Barty chalked up a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 win over last year’s Australian Open runner-up on the eve of the season’s first major.

It is Barty’s ninth singles title on the WTA Tour and her second on Australian soil.

Barty, an Australian Open semi-finalist just over 12 months ago,