Australian Open 2022: Ash Barty makes women’s final with victory over Madison Keys

Ash Barty has made her first Australian Open final with a staggering performance against Madison Keys. But what was it like being on the other side of the court?

Ash Barty has annihilated Madison Keys to set up a blockbuster Saturday night of Australian Open finals at Melbourne Park.

The world No. 1 was untouchable on Rod Laver Arena, blitzing the big-hitting American 6-1 6-3.

She will now face American Danielle Collins for a shot at tennis history.

Collins also raced through her semi-final, defeating Iga Świątek in straight sets 6-4 6-1.

Barty was utterly dominant throughout the match, crunching 20 winners and just eight unforced errors.

By contrast, Keys hit eight winners and 24 errors.

Barty also didn’t lose her serve throughout the match and hit five aces.

Asked what it was like to play the world No. 1 in red hot form, Keys was brutally honest.

“It’s tough. It sucks,” she said.

“She’s just playing incredibly well. I mean, you have a game plan in your head, but she’s just executing everything so well.

“She’s serving incredibly well, so you don’t get any free points on that. Her slice is coming in so much lower and deeper than it was in the past so it’s hard to do anything on that.

Ash Barty celebrates her win over Madison Keys. Picture: AFP Images

“Then you try to play to her forehand and she can open you up there. I think she’s playing some really, really good tennis, but she’s also, it just seems, so locked in and focused.

“I mean, I have played her a handful of times, and this is easily the best I think she’s ever been playing.”

Not surprisingly, Barty was thrilled with her performance.

“It’s unreal (to be here). Honestly, it’s just incredible,” she said.

“I mean, 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.

Madison Keys and Ash Barty after the match. Picture: AFP Images

“The conditions were really different tonight. It was nice and humid. This is Brissy (Brisbane) weather. It was humid, the ball was a little bit slower, a little bit heavier off the strings. I just tried to run and just adapt and keep Maddie under the pump on her serve.”

8:30pm: BARTY SURVIVES FIRST MAJOR TEST

Just when you think Madison Keys is going to find a way to fight her way back into the contest, Barty does what she does best – problem solve – to snuff that out.

After two holds to start the second set, Keys forces Barty into a lengthy fifth game.

She gets to break point, but Barty drills a winner – before two more Keys errors put that idea to bed. Barty is three games from victory.

BARTY’S BRILLIANCE ON DISPLAY

Some crucial defensive tennis from Barty who refuses to give up any advantage. Serving at 4-1, she is forced into third deuce – saving a break point – as she consolidates her double break to race to a 5-1 lead in 24 minutes. Her unbelievable record on serve this year remains unblemished aside from the one drop against Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round.

8:04PM DOUBLE BREAK FOR BARTY – 4-1

This is Ash Barty’s house.

If you want to force an upset, you need to be at your very best.

Madison Keys hasn’t been anything close to that so far tonight.

Barty now has the double break thanks to an incredible nine unforced errors from the American.

7:53PM BARTY RACES TO 2-0 LEAD

It took just five minutes for Barty to stamp her authority on the match, with a break of Keys’ first service game mirroring her blistering quarter-final start against Jessica Pegula. While Keys attacked Barty’s forehand, the Australian found winners – including a blazing cross-court forehand after being drawn towards the net on break point. Advantage Barty.

“There’s a lot of tension on the face of Madison Keys. She is extremely nervous. A lot of unforced errors coming off that racquet,” says Jelena Dokic who is courtside.

MOST POWERFUL SINCE THE WILLIAMS SISTERS

What should we expect from Madison Keys tonight?

A man who knows more about US tennis than just about anyone has given an indication.

Speaking on Channel 9, Jim Courier said power will be the name of the game for the challenger.

“Madison Keys is one of the more powerful, promising players that American women’s tennis has had really since the Williams sisters hit the scene,” he said.

“She’s already been a finalist at a major. She lost to Sloane Stephens in the US Open final.

“It’s been a little bit of a struggle for her at times to play up to her potential in matches like this.

“It feels different for her … the way she started this season feels a little bit different.

“She can challenge Ash if she’s at her best.”

‘I HOPE SHE KICKS A**’: ALCOTT’S CLASSIC MESSAGE FOR ASH

Primed to end Australia’s 44-year home slam singles wait, Ashleigh Barty has another stunning record in her sights as she zeros in on a third grand slam title.

The 25-year-old has been near untouchable over the first 10 days of this year’s tournament, and can on tonight reach her first Australian Open final – where she’d become the first Australian woman since Wendy Turnbull in 1980 to do so.

But Barty’s ruthless efficiency through five wins – spending just five hours and four minutes on court – has her in position to match the extraordinary feats of German ace Steffi Graf’s domination of the 1989 event.

All of Australia is behind Barty, including newly crowned Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott.

Despite losing his quad singles final today, Alcott had a message for Barty in his very own unique style.

“I hope she kicks a**,” he said in the middle of a live interview with Channel 9.

Can the winning run continue? Stay tuned for the latest updates.

HOW BARTY HAS REACHED THIS POINT

Barty’s buzzwords of the week have revolved around “problem solving” and making opponents feel “uncomfortable”, traits she’s delivered in spades.

It took Barty all of three points to figure out the key to dismantling quarter-final victim Jessica Pegula – fighting from 40-0 down in the opening game to break the shell-shocked American and kickstart her most ruthless performance of the tournament.

Her stunning 6-2 6-0 win means Barty has tallied 17 games conceded across five matches at this year’s Australian Open – putting her in the ballpark to better Graf’s extraordinary 1989 triumph, where she dropped just 24 games.

If the pressure is on Barty, it isn’t showing with the Queenslander as calm as you like on and off the court.

Thumbs up after another Ash win. Picture: AFP

“She’s number one, top seed, home slam and chopping everyone up. She should be that favourite,” former Hopman Cup teammate Matt Ebden told News Corp.

“She’s played amazing the first week and hopefully she can keep that up. There’s still a few more matches to go and that’s where she’s gonna need to play her best tennis again.

“But all signs are she’s playing amazing so far, so if she can carry that through I wouldn’t be surprised if she wins.”

Having wiped Americans out in the past two rounds, Barty has a chance to go for a hat-trick when she faces the unseeded Madison Keys in Thursday’s semi-final.

Keys presents a different challenge to those who’ve tried and failed against Barty so far, but the Australian is ready to put her problem-solving to the test.

Can Madison Keys challenge Barty? Picture: Getty Images

“Maddie is an exceptional athlete, she has a great serve, great first strike off the return and off her first ball after her serve,” Barty said.

“A lot of the time it’s about trying to put her in an uncomfortable position, try and get her off-balance, because if she controls the centre of the court the match is on her racquet.

“I need to be able to find a balance, problem solve my way through it, try and work out a way to nullify her strengths and bring it back to my patterns if I can.”

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Ash Barty makes women’s final with victory over Madison Keys