Ashleigh Barty approaches dominant Serena Williams stat by crushing Madison Keys to reach Australian Open final
Ashleigh Barty has cruised all the way to the final of the Australian Open for the loss of just 21 games over six matches, a stat that brings her close to Serena Williams’ level of authority.
The home favourite world number one made short work of 2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys by ousting the American 6-1, 6-3 in barely an hour.
By dropping just 21 games over 12 sets to reach the Australian Open final, Barty is beaten by only Venus and Serena Williams for fewer games dropped en route to a Slam final in the 21st century.
In 2012, Serena dropped just 19 games on her way to the final, securing three 6-0 sets including a double bagel win over Andrea Hlaváčková in the fourth round.
She then suffered her first dropped set in the final to Victoria Azarenka, but did win for her 15th Major singles title.
The very next year was a very similar story, but with Serena playing even more dominantly.
She dropped just 16 games to reach the 2013 US Open final, including winning five 6-0 sets, two of which came in a double bagel victory over Carla Suarez Navarro in the quarter-finals.
Again, she dropped a set to Victoria Azarenka in the final but still triumphed for her 17th Slam singles crown.
For sister Venus, she reached the 2009 Wimbledon final for the loss of just 20 games, including two 6-0 sets.
However, she ended up losing the final to none other than Serena in their eighth Slam final battle, the result coming in straight sets.
21 – Ashleigh #Barty has dropped 21 games to reach the final at the #AO2022: in 2000s, only Serena Williams (16 at the US Open 2013 and 19 at Flushing Meadows 2012) and Venus Williams (20 at Wimbledon 2009) have lost fewest games to reach a Grand Slam final. Strong.
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) January 27, 2022
At this year’s Australian Open, Barty has won two bagel sets, and her longest match came in the fourth round against Amanda Anisimova, defeating the 20-year-old 6-4, 6-3 in just 76 minutes of play.
Every one of her other five encounters have been between 55 minutes and an hour and five minutes in length, totalling just six hours and 14 minutes on court.
By contrast, her final opponent Danielle Collins has played two three-set matches from six played, spending over nine hours and a half hours on court.
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