January 27, (THEWILL) – On Thursday at the Rod Laver Arena, Ashleigh Barty defeated Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 to get to the Australian Open final. The world number one got off to a flying start in the match, breaking her opponent’s serve on the opening serve.
Keys attempted to catch Barty out with a drop shot after missing a decisive shot to push the game to deuce, squandering two advantages before yielding break point, only for the Australian to run forwards and whip the ball back across the court with a vengeance.
In the second set, Keys refused to give up without a fight, conceding two points in her first service game before winning a tremendous rally with a defiant yell. She then went on to hold, then hold again, earning a breakpoint at 2-2 before Barty came to the net and slashed a winner across the surface.
With a pair of unforced blunders, Keys gifted Barty two break opportunities, putting the game out of reach. Barty missed both opportunities, but at deuce, she hit two powerful strokes to place herself in the final.
Barty went on to hold love, but her opponent hung in there and pushed her to serve for the match. In front of a noisy home audience, the Australian proved irresistible, and she will now face either Danielle Collins or Iga Swiatek in the final.
Following the game, Barty said: “Honestly, it’s just incredible. I love this tournament, I love coming out here and playing in Australia.
“As an Aussie, we’re exceptionally spoiled that we’re a Grand Slam nation, we get to play at home and we get to play in our backyard.
“I’m just happy that I get to play my best tennis here. I enjoy it, I’ve done well before and now, to have a chance to play for a title, it’s unreal.”
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
