Tennis Icon Rod Laver Reacts to Ashleigh Barty Ending 42-Year-Old Draught

Ashleigh Barty eased past Madison Keys’ challenge in the 2022 Australian Open semifinals and booked her place in the final. This will be her 1st ever final appearance in the “Happy Slam”. With this win, Barty ended a 42-year long wait of Australian women’s tennis to see one of their own make it to the Australian Open final. The previous one was 1980’s runners-up Wendy Turnbull.

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver wasted no time in congratulating the top seed on her incredible achievement. He congratulated Ashleigh on Twitter and believes that she can win the championship. If Barty wins the final, she will be the first Australian since Christine O’Neil in 1978 to win the Australian Open singles trophy.

Barty’s dominant performance in the 2022 Australian Open

Ashleigh Barty is yet to drop a set and had just 1 service game broken in the tournament. Barty is currently playing dream tennis, having dropped just 21 games in 6 matches. She also equalled the record for the fewest games (6) lost across quarters and semis in the Australian Open.

Also, only Serena Williams (16 at US Open 2013 and 19 at US Open 2012) and Venus Williams (20 at Wimbledon 2009) have managed to reach the finals of Grand Slam with fewer games lost. Serena won both her 2012 and 2013 US Open finals. Whereas, Venus lost her 2009 Wimbledon final match against Serena.

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Smooth sailing for Ashleigh Barty in the semi-final

Ashleigh defeated Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3 and will be playing against World No. 27 Danielle Collins in the finals (who is set to make her top-10 debut after the tournament). Collins won her semi-final against Iga Swiatek in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 today, and will face the huge task of competing against Barty for the title.

Ash started the semis match with an early break of serve and won her 1st set in just 26 minutes. Though Madison had a chance to break Barty’s serve midway into the 1st set, powerful Aces from Ashleigh denied any chances of a comeback.

Barty continued to dominate the game and broke Keys’ serve in the 6th game of the 2nd set. After leading 4-2, it was Barty’s match altogether. With unanswerable serves and beautiful volleys, Ash finished the match in just over an hour.

Collins will be the 4th American to face Ashleigh in the tournament, and with her current form, Ashleigh looks certain to clinch her maiden Australian Open title.