By Erik Gudris | Saturday, June 24, 2017
Australia’s Ash Barty reached her first ever grass court final in Birmingham where she’ll face Petra Kvitova.
Photo credit: Christopher Levy
The Aegon Classic final in Birmingham will feature two women who not that long ago were both far away from a tennis court. Now each are showing fine grass court form leading up to this year’s Wimbledon.
Australia’s Ash Barty booked her place in her first ever grass court final with an impressive three set win over No. 6 seed Garbine Muguruza. She’ll face Petra Kvitova who is just now coming back to tennis after surviving a knife attack several months ago.
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"It's really cool!” Barty said just after the 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory. “It was nice to be able to come out and execute what we wanted to do, and to win is a bonus.”
Muguruza appeared ready to make it a short afternoon as the Spanish star wrapped up the first set 6-3. But it was the Aussie, after going up an early break in the second set, who started playing with fire. Barty hit several incredible winners including this one on her forehand.
Eventually Barty, with a strong serve, sealed the second set 6-4 to force a decider.
Barty broke Muguruza’s serve early in the final set. But the Spaniard responded by earning a break point of her own in the next game. Barty answered by hitting this perfect lob on her way to consolidating her lead.
Barty jumped out to a 5-1 lead and soon held match points on Muguruza’s serve. The Spaniard managed to fight off both and forced Barty to serve for the match up 5-2. The Australian, serving for her biggest career win to date, got a little tight and dropped serve at love.
But it wouldn’t deny Barty her moment. Barty once again held match point on Muguruza’s serve in the next game. With a piercing backhand winner, Barty sealed the 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory, her first ever against a top 20 player.
Barty, who won junior Wimbledon in 2011, left the sport in 2015 to play cricket for a year. Barty is now in her second career singles final and will also play in the Birmingham doubles final.
Waiting for Barty will be Petra Kvitova. The two-time Wimbledon champion faced off against fellow Czech Fed Cup teammate Lucie Safarova in the earlier semifinal.
The match was a one-sided contest as Safarova, struggling with a leg injury picked up in her three set quarterfinal win over Daria Gavrilova, could not compete. Kvitova easily won the first set. Safarova tried to play on, but decided to retire giving Kvitova the 6-1, 1-0 win.
"It's fantastic to have (Petra) back on the court,” Barty said about facing Kvitova. “She's one of the nicest girls and we really missed her."