Ash Barty adopting simple approach to breaking 44-year Australian Open title drought

If Ash Barty is feeling pressure in her quest to be the first local player to win the Australian Open women's singles title in 44 years, the world number one is hiding it behind a brilliant poker face

When asked how she was going to handle tonight's final on Rod Laver Arena — where she will play Danielle Collins — Barty explained she had a simple approach.

«Absolutely embrace it,» Barty told the media following her straight-sets semifinal win over Madison Keys.

«You have to, it's fun. It's brilliant to be playing in the business end of your home slam. I'm not going lie about that. It's amazing.

»I think being able to experience it multiple times has been incredible, but Saturday's going to be a new experience for me.

«So I will go out there and embrace it, smile, try and do the best that I can and whatever happens, happens.»

Barty is no stranger to ending Australian title droughts.

Ash Barty will face Danielle Collins in the final as she pursues a third major singles championship, becoming the first Australian in 42 years to make the women's tournament decider.

Her Wimbledon victory last year was the first by an Australian woman since her hero Evonne Goolagong Cawley won in 1980, while her 2019 French Open triumph broke a barren run at Roland Garros stretching back to Margaret Court's win in 1973.

But the Australian Open is seemingly a different beast for the players contesting their home major.

Since Chris O'Neil's victory in 1978, no Australian has been able to claim the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup for winning the women's championship.

Wendy Turnbull is the most recent finalist (1980). While during the same era Dianne Fromholtz-Balestrat could not break through, despite having the talent to reach a career-high ranking of fourth