MELBOURNE, 25 January 2022 (AFP) — Australian Ashleigh Barty, world number one, continued to show her strength this Tuesday as she beat American Jessica 6-2 and 6-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open. ,
The 25-year-old reached the semi-finals of her country’s Grand Slam in 2020 and lost in the quarterfinals in 2021.
Winner of Grand Slam titles (Roland Garros 2019 and Wimbledon 2021), Barty wants her first Australian Open trophy in front of her fans this edition.
“I’m glad I was on the offensive with my right hand, even though I made a few mistakes,” said Barty, who has an impressive tournament run, spending just an hour on the court at each stage.
Since the 2020 semi-finals, Barty seems to be “more complete, with more experience to manage situations that arise”.
Barty moves fast on the court: Lecia Surenko (6-0, 6-1 in 54 minutes), Lucia Bronzetti (6-1, 6-1 in 52 minutes), Camila Giorgi (6-2, 6-) 3) in 61 minutes and Amanda Anisimova (in one hour and fourteen minutes).
In the semi-finals, Barty will play against world number 51 American Madison Keys, who defeated Czech Barbora Krejcikova (4th), Roland Garros champion 6-3 and 6-2 in 2021.
“It means a lot,” Keys said after the win. “Last year was very difficult and I did everything I could with my team to prepare for the off-season and focus on the start of next season,” Keys said.
“Wow, it’s going great so far. I’m really proud of myself,” she said.
This is the second time Keys has reached the semi-finals in Melbourne, having reached that stage in 2015, when she lost to Serena Williams, who went on to win the tournament.
— Results of this Tuesday’s Australian Open
– Women’s singles (quarterfinals):
Ashleigh Barty (AUS/N.1) x Jessica Pegula (US/N.21) 6-2, 6-0
Madison Keys (EUA) x Barbora Krejcikova (CZE/N.4) 6-3, 6-2
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