MELBOURNE, Australia – World No. 1 Ashley Barty continued her explosive pace on Thursday to reach the final of the Australian Open in one hour, where she will face the tough Danielle Collins.

There was indeed a semifinal between Barty and the American Madison Keys (51st), but there was no match as the Australian dominated their opponent and swept it 6-1, 6-3.

Like Barty’s other opponents from the start of the tournament, Keys learned a lesson. He barely managed to make this lecture last more than an hour (62 minutes).

During this time, # 1 passed 5 aces, but did not see 48% of her serve return! She saved the two break points that Keys got (one per set) and converted four of the six break points in her favor, planting 20 winners for 13 unforced errors.

“It simply came to our notice then. “I’m happy to play my best tennis here,” said the 25-year-old Australian, who is certain to retain her place at the top of the world rankings on Monday.

“The ball was a little slower tonight, heavier on the key. “I just tried to run and adjust, return as many balls as I could and put Mandy under pressure on her serve,” said the first Australian to reach the Melbourne final after Wendy Turnbull in 1980.

“More complete”

Barty had reached the semifinals in Melbourne in 2020 and lost in the quarterfinals in 2021.

Of that half, “I’m more complete, I have more experience managing the different situations that arise,” he warned.

Keys, 26, had already reached the last four of the Australian Major in 2015.

If it is currently out top 50 (he was even 87th on January 10), had reached 7th in the world (in 2016) and played a final in the United States Open (2017). Last year, she started her season in March and won just one match at Indian Wells in October, after being eliminated in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in July.

He will find it top 30 Monday. “It’s very good to find her where she needs to be,” Barty commented.

The latter, holder of two Grand Slam titles (Roland-Garros 2019 and Wimbledon 2021), will try on Saturday to finally win “her” Major. It will be against the American Danielle Collins (30th) who defeated the Polish Iga Swiatek (9th) 6-4, 6-1.

“It does not work like this”

“I could not be happier. The road was not easy, so many years of work … It is not done that way! “, Underlined the 28-year-old American who will incorporate for the first time top 10 world Monday.

“So it’s really crazy to be here, especially after the health problems I had,” she said, referring to the endometriosis that made her suffer so much and for which she underwent surgery last year.

Collins had made a name for himself by reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open in 2019 for his first appearance.

She has the nickname “Danimal” for her aggressive game and for the aggression she puts in each of her blows, the determination she puts in each of her gestures, her appearance.

I added variety to my game, but plan A is to be aggressive. “I did it again and it worked,” he said on Thursday.

Of course, he jumped on Swiatek’s neck. Entrance. In both sets, the American escaped 4-0.

If the Polish managed to return – a little – to the first set, Collins did not give her the opportunity to do so in the second.

With the exception of halfway through Melbourne in 2019, Collins had reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2020, but never made it to the third round at Wimbledon or the United States Open.

Swiatek, the surprise winner at Roland-Garros in 2020, reached the semifinals for the first time in another Major.