Ashleigh Barty finished a 42-year dry season in ladies’ tennis on Thursday at the Australian Open, and she’ll get an opportunity to stop one more close half-cenutry dry spell in the land down under on Saturday.
The highest level ladies’ player in singles play crushed Madison Keys in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in the elimination rounds at the Grand Slam occasion, turning into the main Australian since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 to arrive at the ladies’ singles last in the competition. The last Australian lady to win the occasion was Chris O’Neil in 1978.
The 25-year-old Barty will confront 28-year-old American Danielle Collins for the title on Saturday. Collins is the 30th-positioned player on the planet and crushed 2020 French Open hero Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1 in the other elimination round match on Thursday.
“It’s unreal. Honestly, it’s just incredible,” Barty said following her victory over Keys. “I love coming out here and playing in Australia. … As an Aussie, we’re exceptionally spoiled we get to play in our own backyard. Now we have a chance to play for a title. It’s unreal.”
The Australian Open finals between Barty and Collins is scheduled to begin at 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday.
