Wimbledon, United Kingdom, July 8, 2021 (AFP) – World number one Ashleigh Barty on Thursday qualified for her first Wimbledon final by defeating Germany’s Angelique Kerber (28 and 2018 champion) 6-3 7-6(3) 7/3). ).
The 25-year-old Australian tennis player will fight for the title on Saturday with Czech Karolina Pliskova (13th) or Russian Arina Sabalenka (fourth).
“It’s amazing, it was the best tennis I’ve ever had,” said Barty, who had eight aces and 38 winners. “It was a good match since the first ball.”
“I’m proud of myself and will do my best on Saturday to win the championship. Playing this final will be the greatest experience of my life,” he added.
Barty was eliminated in the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2019, just weeks after winning Roland Garros, his only Grand Slam title to date.
Against Kerber, she started with an imposing and opened 3-0. The 33-year-old German responded but failed to catch up.
But it was she who broke early in the second half and opened the 3-0 lead. And just as the second set looked like it would be a copy of the first, this time in favor of the German, Barty changed the script, breaking the opponent’s serve.
Kerber led 6-5, but Barty adjusted ten straight points to break the tie and made it 6-0 with six game points. Kerber saved three but ended up losing the fourth.
The German tennis player, formerly ranked No. 1 in the world and winner of three majors (Australia and US Open in 2016, Wimbledon in 2018), has at least the solace of being reborn at this edition of Wimbledon, after being eliminated in the first. The tour is in February at the Australian Open and in June at Roland Garros.
ig / dr / iga / aam
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