Barty hits career-best 17 aces in win over Kenin to reach Adelaide semi-finals

WTA Adelaide International 1 | Results | Draw | Schedule

World No 1 Ash Barty found her serving groove on Friday as she stormed into the semi-finals of the Adelaide International.

The Aussie, who later this month will try to become the first home singles champion at the Australian Open since 1978, hitting a career-best17 aces as she eased past 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-4.

What’s more, Barty won 31 of 32 points on her first serve, as good a serving display as she has managed at any time in her career. She won 15 of 15 in the first set and dropped just one in the second set (at 3-2) as she wrapped up a convincing win.

Barty will play either former French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals on Saturday after the Pole beat former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 2-6, 6-1.

“Today I was able to see the box quite clearly and hit my spots well and get on a little bit of a run,” Barty said. “I think towards the end Sofia was kind of leaning one way or the other and I was able to kind of get up and hit my spots.”

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