Australian Open: Favourite Barty sails into next round

It was smooth-sailing at Melbourne Park much like the Yarra that runs alongside the sprawling downtown tennis centre.

World No.1 Ashleigh Barty sparked the mood of the

Australian Open

with her velvety touch. The home hope, who lost just one game in her opening match, was incrementally generous in her second outing, sealing a 6-1, 6-1 result against Italian qualifier

Lucia Bronzetti

.

With that win the top-seed extended her streak of service holds to 48 games.

Barty, ever endearing, has in the last couple of years emerged as the country’s cultural icon. The inspiring face of the indigenous community. What better time to showcase her skills than on the inaugural First Nations Day.

"It was nice for me to be a part of it in a way that I feel most comfortable. Out on the tennis court is how I express myself as an athlete, as a person," said the top-seed looking to become the first home champion since 1978. "It's exciting to be able to celebrate my culture, celebrate the indigenous people of this land."

"It's a brilliant way to bring the community together. It’s not just sport, it's art, education, so many different facets of our family, our heritage."

Barty was about seven when she learnt of her indigenous roots. Her father sat her and her sisters down and went through the family tree.

"It was amazing for us to understand just how connected we are to this Australian land," she said. "We felt really special, this incredible connection to so many different people around the nation, a connection to our tribe (Ngarigo)."

On

Rod Laver Arena

, she let her racket show her appreciation, lighting it with 21 winners and eight aces. Her slices – a wicked whisper of a shot – broke the back of her opponent’s challenge.

Next up for the 25-year-old, a two-time major champion French Open (2019) and Wimbledon last year, is another Italian the 30th seed

Camila Giorgi

.

Meanwhile defending champion

Naomi Osaka

was ruthless in her 6-0, 6-4 win over American

Madison Brengle

.

In other second-round matches world No.3 Alexander Zverev silenced the house and his 89th-ranked opponent Aussie John Millman with a commanding 6-4, 6-4, 6-0 win. Rafael Nadal moved past a fighting Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

Hubert Hurkacz the 10th seed went down 4-6, 2-6, 3-6 to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the day’s upset result.