Without losing a set and with another outstanding performance, the number one in the world has reached its first final in its home country. She has a historic chance there on Saturday.
Ashleigh Barty is in a league of his own at the Australian Open, and the long-awaited home win is within reach. The number one in the tennis world rankings continues to show no weakness and made it into the final in Melbourne for the first time with a 6: 1, 6: 3 against the previously very convincing American Madison Keys. As the first Australian since 1978, Barty can triumph at the home Grand Slam on Saturday.
The opponent in the final will be determined by the Pole Iga Swiatek, 2020 French Open winner, and Danielle Collins (USA). Wimbledon champion Barty went into the tournament as the big favorite, and the 25-year-old didn’t drop a single set on her way to the final.
Last Australian winner in 1978
In 1978, Christine O’Neil was the last Australian to win the home Grand Slam title. Barty’s best result in Melbourne so far was reaching the 2020 semifinals, when she lost to eventual winner Sofia Kenin (USA). No Australian had reached the final since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.
Barty’s opponent Keys, number 51 in the world, had entered her second semi-final in Melbourne after 2015 with strong performances. She had also convincingly beaten the co-favorites Paula Badosa (Spain) and Barbora Krejcikova (Czech Republic). But two-time Major winner Barty is well above the competition in this tournament.
She only needed 26 minutes for the first set against the tense Keys, with her clever rhythm changes through the unpleasant backhand slice, Barty dominated the match in the Rod Laver Arena. The American initially kept up better in the second set, but Barty showed her best tennis in the important moments and ended the game after just 62 minutes.