Muguruza and Kenin in final clash
Spain’s Garbine Muguruza beat Romanian fourth seed Simona Halep 7-6(8) 7-5 last night to reach the final of the Australian Open.
In tomorrow’s final, Muguruza will meet American 14th seed Sofia Kenin, who beat top seed Ash Barty 7-6(7) 7-5 in the first semifinal in Melbourne yesterday.
On reaching her first Australian Open final, the unseeded Muguruza said she was taking each match at a time throughout the tournament and never thought of the prospect of reaching the final.
Down in both sets, she also said she reassured herself to keep going, knowing she would get her chances against Halep.
Muguruza said she was lucky she had 48 hours to rest for the final against Kenin after such a hot day in Melbourne.
Muguruza is a former No 1 and a two-time major champion. She won the French Open in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.
But she came to Melbourne Park as an unseeded player at a grand slam tournament for the first time in six years.
Earlier, Kenin shattered Ashleigh Barty’s Australian Open dream with a shock straight-sets win over the big home hope.
Kenin defied searing heat and her world No 15 ranking to upset the top seed at Rod Laver Arena.
While Kenin gets the chance to claim her maiden grand slam crown, Barty will rue being unable to convert either of two set points from 6-4 up in the first-set tiebreaker or another two serving at 5-4 in the second set.
A hot favourite to become the first Australian woman since Wendy Turnbull 40 years ago to make an Open final, the world No 1’s defeat left the packed crowd on Rod Laver Arena shellshocked.
Even Kenin, who lost to Barty in the French Open fourth round last year, was pinching herself in the aftermath.
‘‘Honestly, I’m so speechless. I honestly can’t believe this. I’ve dreamed about this moment since I was five years old,’’ said the Moscow-born 14th seed.
‘‘I’m so speechless, thankful. I have worked so hard to be here. Thanks to my dad and everyone back home.’’
Barty dominated much of the opening set, conceding only four points in her first five service games.
But she paid the price for not cashing in on three break-point chances in the sixth game, as Kenin snatched the set in the breaker.
A winner of a tour-best 13 matches from a set down last year, Barty looked to be mounting a signature comeback when she charged to a 3-1 lead in the second set.
But, in temperatures nudging towards 40 degrees Celsius in Melbourne, she crumbled trying to level the match up as Kenin reeled off four straight games from 3-5 down to seal victory after one hour and 45 minutes.
‘‘I knew I needed to find a way to win. Thank you so much,’’ Kenin told the crowd.
‘‘This wasn’t an easy one. I’m so grateful and thank you for this moment.’’
‘‘I knew I needed to find a way to win.’’ Sofia Kenin