Australian Open 2022: Ashleigh Barty breezes through to Final at the Happy Slam

The Australian and World Number one Ashleigh Barty has made it through to the final of the Australian Open in her bid to become the first Aussie to win the Trophy since 1978.

Barty won the 2021 Wimbledon Championship and after failing to make it past the third round of the US Open will hope to restore her faith in her Grand Slam abilities as she takes on America’s Danielle Collins in this year’s Australian Open final.

The men’s tournament will have their semi final fixtures on Friday 28 February 2022.

Matteo Berrettini will play 20 time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal as Stefanos Tsitsipas takes on the second in the world, Daniil Medvedev.

What happened in the semi final matches?

Men’s Doubles

This year’s Australian Open has been filled with twists, turns and altercations, starting with Novak Djokovic’s deportation and the most recent storm coming in Nick Kygrios’ doubles match with Thanasi Kokkinakis against Horacio Zeballos and Marcel Granollers.

Kygrios was referred to as a ‘K***’ by his rival, Michael Venus, after an epic quarter final win against the sixth seeded pair Venus and Tim Puetz.

Kyrgios’s on-court antics were described as more like a circus than a tennis match and in the Australian’s semi-final match, a wild hit struck a child in the stomach, prompting tears and breathlessness.

The fiery tennis player then sent up a tennis racket by means of apology, but this did not stop his rival calling out his immaturity level by comparing it to a 10-year-old.

In the explosive television interview, Venus said: “It felt like a circus out there, and not really a tennis match.

“Between serves (they were) geeing the crowd up and getting them to cheer at times like that. I don’t think that’s really on.

“It’s amazing, he can smash a ball out that hits a kid and just ‘cause he gives them a racquet afterwards, people can say he’s such a good guy.”

Kyrgios and his partner ‘Special K’ Kokkinakis will face Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden, fellow Australians, in the men’s doubles final.

Joe Salisbury and his partner Rajeev Ram lost 6-3 7-6(11-9) to Purcell and Ebden.

Women’s Doubles

The Czech pair of Katerina Siniakova and Barbora Krejcikova will take on Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad and her Montenegrin partner Anna Danilina in the Women’s doubles final.

Both matches were far less controversial than their male counterparts with the Czech tennis players beating their opponents 6-2 6-3 while their fellow finalists were taken to a three set decider as they won 6-5 5-7 6-4.

Ashleigh Barty v Madison Keys

Barty defeated the American star Madison Keys 6-1 6-3 to become the first Australian women to reach their home Slam in over 40 years.

Keys was unseeded coming into this tournament but despite a stunning run at the Open, was ultimately not strong enough to overpower the number one in the World.

Speaking after the match, Barty said: “It’s just unreal - as an Aussie we are spoiled that we are a Grand Slam nation, and now have a chance to play for a title.”

Barty has been able to rely on her strong serve throughout the competition and has conceded just 21 games in the process of making it to the final.

Keys, who had been hoping to reach her second major final, looked on edge from the beginning and was unable to trouble Barty at all.

Danielle Collins v Iga Swiatek

American Danielle Collins cruised to a 6-4 6-1 victory over the seventh seeded player, Iga Swiatek in the second semi final of the Australian Open.

Collins is currently ranked 27th in the world and has now reached her first-ever Grand Slam final.

Collins was forced to take time out last April in order to have surgery on her womb after suffering endometriosis. She returned to action just two months after the operation and has used her incredible serve matched with her phenomenal pace to make it through to the Happy Slam final.

Speaking after her win, Collins said: “It feels amazing. It has been such a journey. It is so many years of hard work. Yesterday I spoke about all the early mornings my Dad would get up and practice with me before school.

“It is incredible to be on this stage, especially after all the health challenges. I couldn’t be happier.”

When is the final?

The final will be played on Saturday 29 January 2022. The time is yet to be confirmed.

Go to our article on How to watch the Australian Open to find out more on how to follow the tournament.

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