Aussie superstar Ash Barty hits 17 aces in magical win at Adelaide International

Ash Barty is vying to become the first Aussie woman to win the Australian Open since Chris O’Neil and her quest looks on track.

Barty looks in fantastic form. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

About all that went wrong for Ash Barty in Adelaide on Friday were two unsuccessful line-call challenges and a pair of double faults.

In other words, Barty was almost flawless in a 6-3 6-4 quarter-final demolition of Sofia Kenin in their first clash since the American ended the world No. 1’s 2020 Australian Open hopes in a semi-final heartbreaker.

The only similarity to that day was that Barty was again in charge in both sets – but this time the door was slammed shut anytime Kenin tried to find an opening.

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The 25-year-old Queenslander hit 17 aces, won 31 out of 33 first-serve points and struck double as many winners (30) as unforced errors (14) in a brilliant performance.

Kenin faced break points in four of her nine service games but failed to win more than two points anytime Barty had the ball in hand.

“I felt pretty good today,” Barty said.

“I think I was able to look after my service games pretty well and it was a lot of fun playing out here again, to get some more court time and start to feel a little bit better.”

Barty is through to the semi-finals of the Adelaide International. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP)

After having to claw her way back from the brink of defeat against impressive teenager Coco Gauff in round two, Barty was primed from the outset against Kenin.

Her service dominance helped heap more pressure on 12th-ranked Kenin, who struggled to ever get a foothold in the contest.

Kenin staved off a break point in just the second game but relented four games later, when her backhand slice sailed long.

That was the story of her day – while Barty barely made a mistake, Kenin’s waywardness off the ground cost her dearly, after she got away with it against Ajla Tomljanovic a round earlier.

Not even the Kenin drop shots that terrorised Tomljanovic fussed Barty, including an effort where the Australian chased one down then expertly steered a down-the-line backhand winner.

“It’s nice to come out here and really be tested right from the start and know that you have to bring your very-best level,” Barty said.

“Looking at both of these last two matches, there is still work to do. We go back to the drawing board and continue to try and do all the right things.

“But it’s been a really solid start and we’re happy with the foundation that we’ve kind of set to start the year.”

Barty cut her 2021 campaign short in order to prepare for the Australian Open. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP)

Barty’s biggest test this week awaits in the semi-finals, where she will take on either defending Adelaide champion Iga Swiatek or dual Australian Open titlist Victoria Azarenka.

Seventh-seeded Kazakh Elena Rybakina claimed her quarter-final on the opposite side of the draw, outlasting another American, Shelby Rogers, 3-6 6-3 6-2.