Wimbledon 2021: Ash Barty to face Karolina Pliskova in her first final in London

Ashleigh Barty, who beat Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6(3) in the first semi-final, will face Karolina Pliskova in the Wimbledon women's singles final on Saturday.

Ashleigh Barty celebrates after defeating Angelique Kerber during the women's singles semi-finals. (AP)

Top seed Ash Barty became the first Australian woman to reach the Wimbledon singles final for 41 years after beating former champion Angelique Kerber 6-3 7-6(3) on Thursday.

The 25-year-old will now aim to emulate Evonne Goolagong who won the second of her two Wimbledon crowns in 1980.

A first Wimbledon final.@AshBarty, 50 years on since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won at The Championships, is one victory away from emulating her idol after beating Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6(3) 🇦🇺#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/qgWxKoKYvI

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

After saving a break point in a nervy opening game on a sunny Centre Court, world number one Barty was supreme in the first set as her all-court game flowed on the grass.

The 33-year-old Kerber used all her experience on the surface to hit back in the second set and looked poised to take it into a decider when serving at 5-3.

Story continues below this ad

But Barty got back in the groove and broke to love.

Kerber’s game went off in the tiebreak and Barty surged into a 6-0 lead and despite missing out on three match points she was never going to let her opportunity slip.

Just a young lady from Queensland, Australia living out her childhood dreams ☺️ #Wimbledon | @AshBarty pic.twitter.com/AKudrx09v6

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021

A netted backhand from Kerber sent Barty through to her second Grand Slam final, having won the French Open in 2019.

She will face Karolina Pliskova, after the latter beat second-seed Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the second semi-final, in Saturday’s showpiece — the first time since 1977 that both finalists are in their maiden Wimbledon final.

Sweet Karolina.@KaPliskova comes from a set down to reach the #Wimbledon final for the first time after beating Aryna Sabalenka 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 pic.twitter.com/xCPFfAXL7V

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2021