Australia’s Ashleigh Barty has continued her excellent run of form by booking her place in the final of the Nottingham Open and a clash with home favourite Johanna Konta.
Top seed Barty made it four straight wins in four matches as she swept aside Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-3 6-4 in 65 minutes in the English grass court tournament, boosting her confidence in the build up to Wimbledon.
And the victory helped the world No.17 gain revenge for her defeat to Osaka at the Australian Open in January.
“I think it’s been a very clean week for me. I’ve served well and gotten myself into return games very well,” Barty said.
“I think when I first got on the grass, I instantly felt comfortable.
“I’m obviously feeling very good this week and I hope to go one more tomorrow. Being in a final again is always a positive no matter where you are.”
Barty broke third-seeded Osaka three times and didn’t face a break point on her own serve, dropping just nine points on serve overall in the entire match.
“I knew today I was going to have to step up another level, and I was able to do so. I’m pretty pleased with that,” she added.
Konta overcame a rain delay and defending champion Donna Vekic to secure her place in the final for the second successive year.
The world No.22, who beat Barty in the quarters last year before losing to Vekic in the final, breezed through the opening set.
Vekic called for the trainer and looked ready to go for treatment when rain forced them all off. After around an hour’s delay, Konta moved 3-1 ahead only for the Croatian to break back and level but the British No.1 closed out the match with another break.
Konta is aiming to become the first Brit to win a WTA singles grass title at home since former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade in Eastbourne in 1975.
But she is wary of her Aussie opponent’s strengths on grass.
“Barty is a very talented, very crafty player,” Konta said.
“She loves this surface and she’s very vocal about it. I’m sure she’s going to be playing her best tennis. She’s improved a lot and is playing very well since she’s come back.
“That’s a great challenge for me, to play someone who’s so in form. I’ll do my best to just battle hard.”
Barty, who is into her second final of the year after losing in January to former world No.1 Angelique Kerber in Sydney, added: “I lost to Jo here (Nottingham) last year, so I think I can go in and play some pretty free tennis.”
