Ash Barty Reaches Home Final And Faces Danielle Collins of USA
Australian Open
January 27, 2022
Ash Barty has become the first Australian woman to reach her home Grand Slam final for 42 years.
And yet she took just one hour and two minutes to get the job done against Madison Keys.
Maybe the American will feel she didn’t unleash her most ferocious game with sufficient accuracy.
But then again Barty didn’t let her. She showed remarkable self-assurance and consistency while always mixing up her pace and length.
The Melbourne crowd went crazy as Barty won 6-1, 6-3.
Imagine the Wimbledon 2022 crowd’s reaction if Emma Raducanu goes deep in a few months!
Now Ash will face American hot-shot Danielle Collins, who overpowered a nervous Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1.
Collins said: ‘It feels amazing. It’s been such a journey and it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s been years and especially with my health challenges, I’m so grateful.’
Danielle had a major operation on her uterus as recently as April. Now she can’t wait to show she is back to full force against Barty.
Collins explained: ‘We’ve had some incredible battles over the years and to play the number one player in her home country? It’s going to be spectacular!’
The power of Collins versus the guile of Barty. The Australian should have too much in the end. But what a final we have in prospect!
So how great will the Wimbledon 2022 women’s final be?
In Melbourne Danielle served and returned like a dream against Swiatek. If she can put any doubts in Barty’s head then the final will become enthralling.
Ash was bowled over by the semi-final reception her victory received and the thought of playing in the final.
Barty said: ‘It’s unreal. Just incredible. I love coming out here playing in Australia, I get to play for a title in my backyard!
‘The conditions were different. It was heavier off the strings. I just tried to run hard and do the right things.
‘Maddie has the ability to take it away from you without you even knowing it’s happening.
‘It’s nice to see Maddie back where she belongs. I really respect her and love her.
‘But I played great tonight. There was no stress, I just went after it.’
Tennis in all its forms has captured the imagination in Australia. Wheelchair superstar Dylan Alcott’s retirement speech and acceptance of all the national accolades earlier in the day moved everyone – including Barty.
She explained: ‘Dylan has inspired the nation and the whole globe. We were watching his acceptance speech and I was crying even before my match.’
Ash didn’t know whether it was Collins or Swiatek when she spoke but said: ‘They find a way to win. They fight and they scrap. I will come out and enjoy it with a massive smile on my face and see what happens.
‘I’m absolutely ready for the final, let’s do it! I’ve got one more chance.’
And in a few months Ash Barty will have the chance to defend her title at Wimbledon 2022.
What an exciting time this is for tennis!
And Wimbledon 2022 is the perfect moment for you to create moments to treasure.
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