(CNN)Ashleigh Barty doesn’t seem to be slowing down at the moment.
The 25-year-old sped into Thursday’s Australian Open final after beating America’s Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour on the court.
Barty is yet to lose a set in the tournament and Australia are now awaiting their first home Australian Open winner since 1978.
She meets Danielle Collins in Saturday’s final after the American defeated Iga Swiatek in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 later on Thursday.
“It’s just unreal,” Barty said after the match.
“As Australians we are spoiled that we are a Grand Slam nation and now we have a chance to play for a title.”
READ: The US tennis star reaches the semi-finals of the Australian Open after undergoing life-changing surgery
“Look what happens” in the finale
The opening set was over in a flash, and Barty used her experience and devastating serve to win it in just 26 minutes.
Keys, who has played in her first Australian Open semifinal since 2015, struggled to get into the match but resisted in the second set.
Despite some impressive winners from the American, it was Barty who was in complete control from start to finish.
The Australian crowd roared after Barty scored the winning goal at match point as they watched her become the first Australian to reach the women’s singles final at the event since 1980.
And Barty won’t be very tired either. She only put in just over six hours on the court during the first Grand Slam of the year and has never seen any problems.
But the Australian won’t be able to take the final for granted given her opponent’s form.
Collins, who made her comeback after suffering serious health problems, was impressive against Swiatek and appeared poised to compete in her maiden Grand Slam final.
The 28-year-old American barely celebrated her semi-final victory but said behind a stone face that she was looking forward to the biggest match of her life.
“It feels great. It’s been such a journey,” she said after the game.
“It’s been so many years of hard work. Yesterday I was talking about all those early mornings my dad would get up before school and practice with me. It’s incredible to be on this stage, especially after all the health challenges. not be happier.”
Collins has always been open about her health struggles and says the pain from her endometriosis – a condition in which the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of it – was among the worst she’s ever experienced.
For Barty, however, this is just another chapter in an incredible career.
After a stellar junior career, she took a break from tennis in 2014 and later said the sport had become “robotic” and that she was a “victim of my own success.”
She turned to cricket and landed a contract as an all-rounder with Brisbane Heat in Australia before returning to tennis in 2016.
She won her first Grand Slam at the French Open in 2019 before taking another break from the sport during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She now produces some of the best tennis racquets of her life and is certainly the one to beat on the women’s tour.
Add Comment