Australia's Ashleigh Barty will have a date with destiny on Saturday (January 29) in the final of the Australian Open (AO) women’s singles after she overcame unseeded Madison Keys in the semi-final. Barty will be the first Australian to play in the final of women's single since Wendy Turnbull in 1980. With a scoreline of 6-1, 6-3 the Australian star will now be the firm favourite to write history and clinch her maiden Australian Open title. She will face the winner of the second semi-final between Danielle Collins and Iga Swiatek in the final.
Barty makes light work
A staggering 86 per cent first serves saw the no.1 seed at the top of her game. In the entire match, she didn't lose her serve, making it a lethal weapon in the arsenal. She made good use of the net, by winning 60 per cent of net points. She broke Keys on four occasions, thrice in the second set to break her resilience and reach the showdown final.
History on the cards
No Australian woman has won the Australian Open since Chris O'Neil in 1978. Barty will have a shot at history books when she will take the court at the Rod Laver Arena on Saturday. Indeed, after O'Neil in 1980, no Australian has taken the guards in the women's singles final in more than four decades. A great piece of historic chapter could be written for her as she comes with wind in her sails having won the Wimbledon Championships in July last year.
First since Pat Cash in 1988
When it comes to singles competition, it will be the first time in 34 years that the Australian Open will have a home finalist. The legendary Pat Cash made two back-to-back men's singles finals, first in 1987 and then in 1988. On both occasions, he lost in thrilling five sets to Swede legends Stefan Edberg and then to Mars Wilander. Cash lost the final set 8-6 in an epic battle with Wilander. Barty, like Cash in 1988 will enter the Australian Open final as the Wimbledon champion.
Great company awaits
Playing in the final of the Australian Open will see Barty join the company of some of the great Australians who played in the singles final including 11-time Australian Open champion Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Kerry Melville, Chris O'Neil and Wendy Turnbull. The honours list also contains legendary Rod Laver, Mark Edmondson, Ken Rosewall and others from the men's department.
Collins' first Grand Slam final
In the second semi-final of the day, with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Iga Swiatek, Danielle Collins reached her maiden Grand Slam final. The match lasted for 78 minutes where Collins dominated her Polish opponent. The American will now face top-ranked Barty for the title at Melbourne Park. Collins had earlier reached the Australian Open semi-final in 2019.
“It feels amazing. It has been such a journey. It is so many years of hard work. Yesterday I spoke about all the early mornings my Dad would get up and practise with me before school,”The 28-year-old said.
Collins has a 1-3 career record against Barty but she won their most recent at the 2021 Adelaide International. “We’ve had some incredible battles over the years. To play the world number one in her home country will be spectacular,” she said during the on-court interview.
In April, Collin underwent an emergency surgery for endometriosis. “It is incredible to be on this stage, especially after all the health challenges. I couldn’t be happier,” she added.
