Australia’s Ashleigh Barty chalked up a morale-boosting straight sets win over China’s Peng Shuai in the first round at the grass court Nottingham Open tournament on Tuesday.

Barty, who returned to tennis in February after stint playing cricket, has seen her world ranking slump to 623.

However, the 20-year-old former junior Wimbledon champion was too good for Peng, who is ranked 358 places above her, and wrapped up victory in an hour and 10 minutes.

The Queenslander will now face Andre Hlavackova of the Czech Republic in the second round.

Hlavackova shocked Belgian fifth seed Yanina Wickmayer after qualifying for the main draw as a lucky loser.

Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki’s first match in more than two months ended in victory as she beat Cagla Buyukakcay of Turkey 7-5 6-3 .

Wozniacki rolled her right ankle while practising for the Fed Cup in early April and she missed the European clay-court season and last played in late March in Miami.

“It’s just great to be back,” she said.

“You feel a bit rusty out there but at the same time it could have been a lot worse.”