Ash Barty has booked her place in the Adelaide International final after outlasting American Danielle Collins 3-6 6-1 7-6 (5).
The world number one got off to a slow start after being broken in her first service game, which allowed the Florida-based Collins to race to a 4-1 lead.
Despite multiple break point opportunities, Barty failed to consoildate her chances, with Collins sealing the first set 6-3.
Danielle Collins is in full control of the first set. 💪
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2020
WATCH: @9Gem
STREAM: https://t.co/pDlc9EoeBF#9WWOS #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/i2qBGnPyxB
However, Barty would show why she is one of the favourites heading into the Australian Open, rattling off five straight games to start the second set.
Barty's back. 😎
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2020
WATCH: @9Gem
STREAM: https://t.co/pDlc9EoeBF#9WWOS #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/UetlziJkTk
Whilst Collins fought off two set points, the 23-year-old sealed the set 6-1 in the following game, sending it to a decider.
From here, both players would trade breaks, with neither being able to close out the match.
In the end, the game went to a tie-breaker, with Barty boosted by a ravenous home crowd to take it 7-5.
The Adelaide crowd showing Ash the ultimate respect.
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 17, 2020
WATCH: @9Gem
STREAM: https://t.co/pDlc9EoeBF#9WWOS #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/MRbFVsjDiG
A standing ovation for an outstanding performance 👋
— Adelaide International (@AdelaideTennis) January 17, 2020
The moment @ashbarty secured her place in the #AdelaideTennis final 🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/t8qTeWETL8
The win means that she will be playing for her first tour-level singles title on home soil.
She will now face Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska in the final on Saturday, who dominated Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 7-6 in just over 90 minutes.
It continues the 19-year-old's giant-killer run, having defeated three top 20 players on her way to the final, including former world number one Angelique Kerber and Croatian star Donna Vekic.