Ash Barty rolls on at Australian Open as potential clash with Naomi Osaka looms on the horizon

Ash Barty's Australian Open campaign is gathering momentum, with the world number one easily accounting for Italian qualifier Lucia Bronzetti in the second round at Melbourne Park.

Barty — hoping to become the first Australian to win the women's singles championship in 44 years — conceded just two games, as she steamrolled Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

The win followed her clinical victory in the opening round, a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Lesia Tsurenko.

Barty faces Bronzetti's compatriot, 30th seed Camila Giorgi, in the third round.

A potential fourth-round meeting with defending champion Naomi Osaka awaits the winner of the Barty-Giorgi clash.

Osaka reached the third round after beating Madison Brengle of the United States 6-0, 6-4. She next plays another American, Amanda Anisimova.

If Barty is thinking ahead to a possible encounter with Osaka, she is at least not admitting as much.

Instead, she used her courtside interview after the win over Bronzetti to assess her form so far at Melbourne Park, having entered the tournament on the back of her Adelaide International victory.

«We are exactly where we are,» Barty said.

«I felt like we had a good preparation in Adelaide. We played well, played throughout tough matches. (Coach) Craig Tyzzer is the master. He's good in the business and I'm spoilt to have him in my team.

»I'm grateful he has the tactical knowledge, communication and the way we talk to each other is incredible."

Barty's defeat of Bronzetti was another comprehensive display, with her dominance of her opponent's serve a key highlight.

She broke Bronzetti five times, while limiting the Italian to just 23 points in total for the match.

Barty served in the opening game of the match and was taken to deuce