Ash Barty advances to Australian Open final after defeating Madison Keys in straight sets

Ash Barty, left, is congratulated by Madison Keys after winning their semifinal.(Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)

Ash Barty has reached the final of her home major for the first time in her career, becoming the first local player in 42 years to reach the Australian Open women’s singles decider.

Barty achieved the feat in style on Thursday night, comfortably winning her semifinal against American Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour on Rod Laver Arena.

Wendy Turnbull was the last Australian to reach the women’s final in Melbourne in 1980 when she lost to Hana Mandlíková in straight sets.

Barty will be hoping to go one better and become the first Australian to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

The world number one will chase her third major singles championship in Saturday night’s final against 27th-seeded Danielle Collins of the United States.

Collins dominated seventh seed Iga Świątek of Poland, 6-4, 6-1, in the second semifinal to progress to her first decider at a major.

“It’s unreal. Honestly, it’s just incredible,” Barty said in her on-court interview.

“I love this tournament, I love coming out here and playing in Australia, and as an Aussie, we’re exceptionally spoiled that we’re a grand slam nation.

“We get to play in our backyard and I’m just happy that I get to play my best tennis here.

Barty produced a clinical performance against Keys, hitting five aces and not conceding a double fault. She made 13 unforced errors to her opponent’s 24.

The Australian had arrived at the semifinal stage without dropping a set, while she had only given up one service break in her five earlier matches.

Keys — who has been ranked as high as number seven in the world — had also been in superb touch, with straight-sets wins over seeds Barbora Krejčíková and Paula Badosa in her two most recent matches.

Nullifying Keys’s massive serve was seen as being crucial to Barty’s chances of beating the former US Open finalist.

Barty ticked that task off her list early, claiming a break in the first game of the match and adding another later in the set to lead 4-1.

The reigning Wimbledon champion and 2019 French Open winner was impressive in her opening two service games, failing to give up a single point.

Keys did snare a break point in the sixth game, however Barty served her way out of a danger to go 5-1 up.

It had been suggested Keys needed to attack Barty’s forehand to prevent the top seed from dictating points.

She struggled in this regard, as illustrated when Barty won the opening set with a crisp forehand winner down the line, breaking Keys for the third time in the process.

At 2-2 in the second set with games on serve, Keys was encouraged when she picked up a break point. It was only her second of the match, but Barty responded with a brilliant overhead smash to get the game back at deuce, before she won the next two points to hold.

Keys was under pressure again in her next service game. She faced three break points, with Barty converting on the third with another forehand winner.

Leading 4-2, Barty did not look like dropping serve in her two remaining service games and she closed out the win with relative ease.

ABC