Wimbledon 2021: Ash Barty cruises into her second grand slam final with a win over Angelique Kerber


Wimbledon 2021: Ash Barty cruises into her second grand slam final with a win over Angelique Kerber

Ashleigh Barty

World No.1 Ash Barty proved her worth once again and stormed into her maiden Wimbledon final after getting the better of former champion Angelique Kerber in straight sets 6-3,7-6(3). Barty also became the first Australian woman in over four decades to reach the final at Wimbledon. This will also be her second grandslam final, she won the 2019 Roland Garros final and would like to repeat the same again.

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Even before the match started, it was a given that the match would be of the highest quality given both Barty’s and Kerber’s form. Both of them played amazing tennis and didn’t give away free points. Barty in particular, was sharp right from the beginning. Her serve was nearly flawless in the opening set. She worked around her tactics and pushed Kerber deep into the court at times. Eventually, she got the decisive break and took the opening set 6-3.

The German played way better in the second set. She was hitting her shots with a very sharp angle for which, Barty wasn’t prepared. The 25th seed finally broke Barty and took a lead in the match for the first time. She held onto the lead and was 5-2 up. But a late surge from Barty was her getting the break back as she won 3 games in a row to draw level at 5-5.

The set went into the tiebreaker where Kerber had no answers for the top seed. The Aussie won 6 points in a row and was leading 6-0 at the changeover. Kerber fought and won 3 consecutive points but it was all artificial excitement as Barty won the tiebreaker and cruised into the Final.

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‘To play on the Final Saturday here at Wimbledon is going to be the best experience ever’: Ashleigh Barty

Ash Barty
Ash Barty

In the on court interview, Barty congratulated Kerber and said that she pushed her to the absolute limit. “This is close to the best tennis matches I will ever play and I think Angie definitely brought the best out of me today and it was a hell of a match right from the first ball. But I knew I’d have to be as good just to compete with her. I’m incredibly proud of myself and my team and now we get a chance on Saturday to live out a childhood dream.”

Barty also thanked her team. “In all the things I get to do, I do it with the people I love, people who have given so much of their time to try and help me to be the best that I can be. We laugh everyday, we smile everyday through sometimes the harder but also the best moments.”

It was speculated that Barty won’t play her best at Wimbledon dur to the injury she developed at Roland Garros. But she defied the odds and is ready for the ‘best experience’ on Saturday in the final.

“I’ve had an incredible journey. I have had ups and downs and everything in between and I wouldn’t change one day or one moment. My journey has been unique, its been incredible and its been tough. There are so many things that have lead to this point. I’m enjoying everyday that we get to come out here and do what I love. Being able to play on the Final Saturday here at Wimbledon is going to be the best experience ever,” she concluded.

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Also read: Novak Djokovic wins his 100th match on grass; trails Federer and Murray on the active male players list

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