Australian Open: Ash Barty and Danielle Collins to meet in women’s final after quick-fire victories in Melbourne
- World No 1 Barty puts on clinical display to win in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes
- Collins takes slightly longer, dispatching seventh seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 in 78 minutes
A ruthless Ashleigh Barty swept into her first Australian Open final on Thursday with the top seed outgunning a resurgent Madison Keys in a clinical, straight-sets demolition.
The world number one overwhelmed the 51st-ranked American 6-1, 6-3 in just 62 minutes, and then little more than an hour later, Danielle Collins powered past seventh seed Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1.
Barty is the first Australian woman into the decider of her home grand slam since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 and is aiming to become the first winner since Chris O’Neil two years earlier.
She is also looking to add to her 2020 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon 2021 titles, with the top seed on an ominous 10-match win streak to start the year.
“Honestly, it’s just incredible. I’m just happy I get to play my best tennis here,” Barty, who is assured of retaining her world number one ranking even if she loses the final, said.
“The ball was a little slower tonight, heavier off the strings. I just tried to run and adapt, make as many balls as I could and keep Maddie under the pump on her serve because she has the ability to really take it away from you quickly.”
Barty paid tribute to Keys, a former top-10 player who is on the rise again after difficult couple of years.