Wimbledon (United Kingdom) (AFP)
Ashleigh Barty, world No.1, qualified Thursday for her first Wimbledon final by dominating the German Angelique Kerber, 28th and winner in 2018, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).
It's one of the best games of my career and it's because Angie pushed me there, "said the 25-year-old Australian who will face Czech Karolina Pliskova (13th) or Belarus Aryna on Saturday for the title. Sabalenka (4th).
"I am very proud of myself and I will do everything on Saturday to win the tournament. To play this final, it will be the greatest experience of my life," she added.
Barty was eliminated in the eighth at Wimbledon in 2019, a few weeks after her success at Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam title on her record to date.
Against Kerber, she started on the hats and came off 3-0.
The 33-year-old German then entered her match, without being able to catch up.
But it was she who managed the break from the start in the second set to break away in turn 3-0.
And while the set seemed to unfold like a layer of the first, this time in favor of the German, Barty changed the scenario by breaking it down to 4-5.
Led 6-5, Barty lined up ten points in a row to win the tie break and break away 6-0 in this decisive game, with six match points.
Kerber saved three before giving in.
Her return to the highest level is remarkable, however, as she was eliminated in the first round at the Australian Open in February and again at Roland Garros in June.
"What made the difference is the grass," she said after her victory in the quarterfinals.
She won three Grand Slam titles: the Australian Open and US Open in 2016, and Wimbledon in 2018.
© 2021 AFP