Barty advances to Adelaide final
Published on: Saturday, January 18, 2020
By: Agencies
Ashleigh Barty plays a shot during her match against Danielle Collins.
ADELAIDE: World No. 1 Ash Barty came from a set down to beat American Danielle Collins 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the Adelaide International semifinals on Friday.Barty will meet world No. 24 Dayana Yastremska in Saturday’s final after the 19-year-old Ukrainian beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 7-6 (4).
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Collins was bothered by a back injury in the final set. She received treatment and was able to continue.
“It was probably my first real taste (this year) of some adrenaline late in matches,“ Barty said. “And that is what we’re after, to try and practice those things as best we can. I felt like I did what I wanted to do well tonight and got over the line.“
Barty beat Yastremska in their only previous meeting last year in Miami.
Meanwhile, Yastremska defeated her third top 20 opponent in a row to make the Adelaide International finals.
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The 19-year-old’s blitzed world number 20 Donna Vekic in the quarter-finals of the Memorial Drive tournament and was a set up against former Australian Open winner Angelique Kerber when the German retired from their final 16 match with back pain.
“I’m pretty happy, this new season is off to a good start,” said 24th ranked Yastremska said after defeating Sabalenka of Belarus for their third match in as many meetings.
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“I’m just doing my job on court, playing my game. I do what I can on court.
“I feel confidence heading to the Australian Open.”
Yastremska broke once per set while losing her own service once in the 106-minute showdown.
She finished on a third match point in the tiebreaker as Sabalenka hit the net on a return.
Yastremska claimed two WTA trophies last season at Strasbourg and Hua Hin, Thailand.
In the men’s competition, South African Lloyd Harris knocked out fellow qualifier Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 after coming through on his third match point.
The 22-year-old will play his first ATP career final against either second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or number three Andrey Rublev.
“To be honest, it doesn’t seem real now,” Harris said. “It was a tough match for both of us, we were both nervous.
“I’m really, really happy with the win. I had to go for it when I was serving for the match, he was ready to make me play,” he added.
“I knew it would be tough to serve it out, I had to put everything I had into the end.”Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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