Ashleigh Barty has withstood a fierce challenge from Petra Kvitova to become the first local woman to reach the Australian Open semi-finals in 36 years.

The steely-eyed world No.1 had to fight off eight break points in a tense first set before denying the free-hitting Czech 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 in a rematch of their 2019 quarter-final at Rod Laver Arena.

The first Australian to make the Open semi-finals since Wendy Turnbull in 1984, Barty will play American 14th seed Sofia Kenin on Thursday for a spot in Saturday night’s title decider.