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

The world No 1 dropped just one point on her first serve as she swept aside Sofia Kenin

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 05: Ash Barty of Australia serves the ball during the WTA singles match between Ash Barty of Australia and Coco Gauff of United States on day three of the Adelaide International tennis tournament at Memorial Drive on January 05, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. || 217008_0094 2022 ADELAIDE ATP open sport tennis Tournament tournoi WTA

Simon Cambers

January 7, 2022

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.

Hey semifinals 👋

Top seed @ashbarty 🇦🇺 adds another win to her belt
after defeating 🇺🇸 Kenin 6-3 6-4

The Barty Party starts now! 🕺#AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/tWMeTZxsTx
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) January 7, 2022

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.”