Melbourne: Ashleigh Barty accelerates the parade towards Australia’s Australia title on Tuesday with a straight set MasterClass on Jessica Pegula, establishing a semi-final with Madison Keys.
The number one one-minded world dismanted the 21st seed 6-2, 6-0 in 63 minutes at the Arena Rod Laver to rule the last four in Melbourne Park only for the second time.
He will face a key that is not seeded for a place in the final Saturday after America, ranked 51st, disappointing open French champions and fourth seeds Barbora Krejcikova 6-3, 6-2.
The keys entered the final grand slam and the first in Melbourne since 2015.
But he faced a big task against the top seeds who crawled closer to becoming the first Australian woman to win her grand slam home since Chris O’Neill 1978.
“It was solid tonight.
I have fun here.
I can serve and find a lot of forehand in the middle of the court and I’m happy to take the match, “Barty said.
“I’ve grown as a person, I’ve grown as a player, I feel I am a more complete tennis player,” he added, referring to his first semi-final on the house of the house in 2020.
“I obviously had several years of years of experience at Down my belt in handling different situations and can solve problems in court.
“Wimbledon champion has not yet dropped a set and only gives 17 matches in five matches in Melbourne Park.
So dominant is that when Amanda Anisimova destroyed it in the second set in their fourth round match, it ended the amazing run of 63 consecutive services.
The break is a blip, with the Pegula does not manage to repeat that achievement.
Pegula won the first three points and served for the opening match at 40-0, but Barty roared back to rest when his opponent tightened backhand from the baseline.
He then slammed two aces in his own opening service game to be consolidated.
Pegula was obtained on the top of the serve itself and then pushed Barty to Deuce four times in the next service game but could not retreat.
One more service service is as good as those obtained by America who did not win another match from 2-3.
Australia pounced again in the seven game with a volleyball net then backhand to give him a double break for 5-2 before serving a set with the fifth Ace.
Barty got rid of a volley for an immediate break at the start of the second set as a fading Pegula, took the world number one for the first time in his career, intimidated around the court.
The couple had met once before, at Roland Garros in 2019 when Australia continued to win his first major title.