Ashleigh Barty has started the 2021 season like a real gale. The Australian tennis player, number one in the world, is already in the semifinals of the Adelaide WTA 500 after beating the American in just over an hour Sofia Kenin, sixth favorite, 6-3 and 6-4. In this way, Barty, who achieved up to 17 direct aces and did not grant any break option, takes revenge in the semifinals of the 2020 Australian Open, when Kenin left him without end.
In the semifinals Barty will face the Polish Iga Swiatek, fifth seed, who beat the Belarusian Victoria Azarenka in three sets 6-3, 2-6 and 6-1 after taking advantage of 5 of the 11 break balls he had. In the other semifinal the Japanese will be measured Misaki Doi, who won in an agonizing match against the Slovenian Kaja Juvan 6-3, 4-6 and 7-6 (5), and the Kazakh Elena Rybakina, who came back against the American Shelby Rogers 3-6, 6-3 and 6-2.
Azarenka and Badosa give up doubles
Victoria Azarenka’s loss to Iga Swiatek in the singles draw also had an impact on the doubles draw, where The Belarusian couple with the Spanish Paula Badosa decided to resign before their semifinal match against the Croatian Darija Jurak and the Slovenian Andreja Klepac. Jurak and Klepac will meet in the final the Australians Ashleigh Barty and Storm Sanders, who defeated the Ukrainian Nadiia Kichenok and the Indian Sania Mirza 6-1, 2-6 and 10-8.
Monfils, Khachanov and Gerasimov, to the semifinals
In the men’s box the first favorite Gael Monfils is already in the semifinals after beating American Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-1. Monfils, who took advantage of five break points of the seven that Paul gave him, will be measured for a place in the final against the winner of the match between the Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis and the Swede Mikael Ymer.
The second favorite for the title, the Russian, also went to the semifinals. Karen Khachanov, who beat Belarusian Egor Gerasimov 7-5, 6-3 thanks to his eight direct aces and his six breaks achieved. In the semifinals Khachanov will have a tough rival, Croatian Marin Cilic, who beat Serbian Laslo Djere 6-2, 6-2.
ATP 250 Adelaide Results.
WTA 500 Adelaide Results.