From girls' champion in 2011 to ladies' champion in 2021? The Wimbledon dream is within reach for Ash Barty

MATCH POINT: Barty ends Tomljanovic's best Slam showing

With her classic meets modern brand of tennis and experience tasting victory as a junior, world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has long been touted as a future Wimbledon champion. A decade after bringing home the girls' singles trophy, the 25-year-old is two matches away from confirming her destiny after eliminating countrywoman Ajla Tomljanovic, 6-1, 6-3, to complete this year’s semifinal lineup.

Since arriving for the grass-court major, Barty has answered every question thrown her way. Ahead of the event, there was much talk about Barty’s left hip following her withdrawal in the second round of Roland Garros. She answered by showing up.

In the first round, she let a match point slip in the second set against a sentimental favorite competing at her final Wimbledon. Barty answered by winning 19 of 20 points to pull away in their decider. In the second round, her second serve went off the rails in producing nine double faults. Barty answered by striking 21 forehand winners. In the third round, she once again failed to serve out the match on her first opportunity. With her opponent serving at 5-5, 40-15, Barty answered by closing out the clash, 7-5. And in the fourth round, she faced a competitor on a 15-match win streak. Barty responded by defeating the fellow French Open champion in two close, but definitive sets.

“The rehab for me in between Paris and playing here at Wimbledon was as best as we could hope for,” Barty told press after her win over Barbora Krejcikova. “I feel like each and every day we continue to do the right recoveries, we try to prepare in a way knowing I can give myself the best chance to walk out on court to play at absolutely a hundred percent and I feel great.”

For Tomljanovic, stepping out for her first match on Centre Court was a moment she had patiently waited for, and persisted in making possible. In 2014, she reached the fourth round at the French Open in just her fourth major main draw. A severe shoulder injury and 23 majors later, Tomljanovic was finally back in the second week of a Slam when she stood across from 18-year-old Emma Raducanu on No.1 Court Monday evening.

The 75th-ranked Tomljanovic began with promise against Barty, holding at love. But soon, Barty’s forehand emerged as the court controller. With its shape and direction handcuffing the opposition, Barty raced out to a one-set lead despite locating just 25 percent of her first serves.

In an unexpected start to the second set, Tomljanovic made the top seed pay the price for not making her first deliveries in securing her first break of the day. The opening didn’t hold up, as Barty continued to use her backhand slice to neutralize rallies and get herself forehands. It soon appeared Barty would sprint to the finish line when she reached break point at 4-1.

To Tomljanovic’s credit, she fought, firing her first two aces of the match before holding. In the following game, she trailed 30-0, but deep hitting enabled the Croatian-born Australian to do the handcuffing. Now back on serve, the question remained: would it matter? Barty answered with an emphatic no: two more forehand winners to break, and two aces in her final game to advance after 66 minutes.

“This is my dream. I'm extremely grateful that I've got an opportunity to come out here and to have fun, live out what I work so hard to do,” Barty told the crowd.

For a place in her first Wimbledon final, Barty is presented with another question: can she defeat a former event winner? On Thursday, she’ll take on 2018 champion Angelique Kerber, whose 6-2, 6-3 victory over Karolina Muchova marked the German's 10th consecutive grass-court win.

“It's the ultimate test,” stated Barty. “Angie's obviously had success here before and had the best fortnight possible. I love that matchup. She's an incredible competitor and knows her way around this court.”

The two have never met away from hard courts and are tied 2-2 in their head-to-head series. Barty claimed their last encounter back in 2018 at Wuhan.