Ash Barty books spot in Roland Garros semi-final with dominant win over Madison Keys

Australian Ash Barty is one win away from the French Open Final after comprehensively taking care of her American opponent.

Ash Barty has booked her spot in the semi-finals after demolishing Madison Keys.

Ash Barty has booked her spot in the semi-finals after sweeping aside American opponent Madison Keys in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.

The eighth seeded Barty took control of the match halfway through the opening set when she broke Keys’ serve before cruising to close the set out.

It was more of the same in the second as the rising Aussie superstar broke serve early, but stumbled at 5-4 with an opportunity to serve out the game.

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Keys converted her first break point of the match, but Barty responded immediately and closed out the match on her next service game.

The win sets up a semi-final showdown with unseeded 17-year-old American Amanda Anisimova.

My goodness Ash Barty had become just a terrific tennis player. Understated little champ! Go you good thing. The sort of idol young players need @ashbar96

— Shura Taft (@ShuraTaft) June 6, 2019

Through five rounds of the French Open, Barty has only dropped one set to American Sofia Kenin in the fourth round.

It will be Barty’s first ever trip to the semi-finals and the incredible run will see her launch into the top five players in the world come Monday.

“I’ve done so much hard work to put myself in this position, to be here now is amazing,” Barty said.

Looking ahead to her showdown against the American teen, Barty was predicting an exciting clash.

“She’s been playing some amazing tennis, an amazing match today,” Barty said of Anisimova. “It’s an exciting match for both of us.”

Despite being on the receiving end of eight aces, Barty’s return game was solid throughout as she won 40 per cent of her receiving points and converted 80 per cent on her own serve.

Following the rain that washed out the whole of Wednesday’s schedule, Barty must now play three matches in as many days to become the first Australian to reach the final in Paris since Samantha Stosur nine years ago.

Ash Barty. What a pro! Semi-finals of the French Open 👌🏻 🎾 @rolandgarros @TennisAustralia

— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) June 6, 2019

ANISIMOVA DID IT!!!

The 17yo American destroys defending champion Simona Halep in 68 minutes, will face Ash Barty for a spot in the final.

Barty vs Anisimova
Konta vs Vondrousova

One of those will be your French Open champion.

Wowwwww

— Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) June 6, 2019

Barty will head into her match against Anisimova as the favourite and will be the only player remaining in the women’s draw ranked inside the top 20.

It makes it the first time since 1976 that all players in the final four will be making their Roland Garros semi-final debut.

Three of the final four are also 23 or under with British star Johanna Konta the outlier at 28 years of age.

Incredibly, Johanna Konta enters the French Open semi-finalist as the most experienced player. She will contest her third Grand Slam SF, while Marketa Vondrousova, Ash Barty and Amanda Anisimova will compete in their first. None of them have ever reached a major final.

— George Bellshaw (@BellshawGeorge) June 6, 2019

Anisimova reachs her first ever semi-finals after upsetting defending champion Simona Halep 6-2, 6-4.

The teenager won on her first match point on Court Philippe Chatrier and sent shockwaves through the tennis world with the victory.

She becomes the youngest American to make a Grand Slam semi-final since Venus Williams back in 1997 at the US Open.

Both semi-final contests will take place on Friday ahead of the women’s final on Saturday (AEST).

— with AAP