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Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in Wimbledon Semis for First Time

On Tuesday, world number one Ashleigh Barty overcame compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in her professional career.

The 25-year-old didn’t have to struggle much to win the match in straight sets by a comfortable 6-1 6-3 scoreline.

She will face 2018 champion Angelique Kerber on Wednesday for a place in the final. Kerber advanced after defeating Czech Karolina Muchova in their quarter-final pairing.

The other semi-final will be contested (also on Thursday) by Arya Sabalenka (who defeated Ons Jabeur) and Karolina Pliskova (who defeated Viktorija Golubic).

As for the match, Tomljanovic saw a small spark of hope after winning the first game, but that would only be a mirage. Barty stepped on the gas and smashed his opponent, winning six games in a row three of which were to love.

However, Tomljanovic did not want to make things so easy for her opponent. In the second set, she came out determined and broke Barty’s serve in the opening game.

Although she had to wait another five games to hit her second winner, she fought back with dignity and even broke Barty again in the seventh.

Even so, the 2019 French Open champion pressed the accelerator once again and it was only a matter of time before she clinched victory.