Ash Barty becomes the first Australian woman to reach the Wimbledon final in 41 years after a VERY impressive straight-sets victory in the semi
- Ash Barty has become Australia’s first Wimbledon women’s finalist in 41 years
After 41 long years, Australia has another Wimbledon women’s singles finalist to savour after Ash Barty produced a dazzling performance to defeat former champion Angelique Kerber.
Living up to her billing as the world’s No.1 player, the Queenslander prevailed 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in what she had called her ‘ultimate test’ on Thursday against the three-time German grand slam winner.
In truth, that ultimate test is actually yet to come on Saturday when Barty will tackle either Aryna Sabalenka or Karolina Pliskova as the first Australian women’s finalist since her idol and mentor Evonne Goolagong, who won in 1980.
Australia has another Wimbledon women’s singles finalist to savour after Ash Barty produced a dazzling performance
Yet this felt like another monumental day on Centre Court as the popular figure from Springfield, Queensland also became Australia’s first singles finalist, man or woman, at the All England Club since Mark Philippoussis lost to Roger Federer in 2003.
In the highest-quality women’s match in the tournament, Barty played her best set yet in the opener to take the initiative.
Then she withstood the sort of inspirational form from a rejuvenated Kerber that took the German world No.28 to the 2018 title to fight back from 4-1 down in a thrilling second set and win after one hour 27 minutes.