Ash Barty could lift two trophies on Sunday as the world No 1 continues to build an impressive case ahead of her Australian Open tilt later this month.
The Queenslander was dominant against defending Adelaide International champion Iga Swiatek on Saturday night, booking her place in the final with a 6-2, 6-4 win.
She will play world No 14 Elena Rybakina in Sunday’s final, where a victory would take Barty’s record against top-20 rivals to 17-1 since the beginning of last year.
The Wimbledon champion will then team with compatriot Storm Sanders in the doubles final.
“This is where I want to play my best tennis; I want to give myself an opportunity to play for titles in Australia,” Barty, who won the Adelaide singles crown in 2020, said.
“So it’s certainly really nice to have an opportunity in two finals … it’s going to be really exciting for my singles, then to go out there with Stormy and have some fun in doubles.”
Barty’s incisive serve has ensured she kept complete control in comfortable wins over Swiatek and world No 12 Sofia Kenin, who beat her in the 2020 Australian Open semi-finals en route to the title.
But the 25-year-old Queenslander said she had been content with how she’d taken the initiative in rallies too, something she’ll need to repeat against Kazakhstan’s Rybakina at Memorial Drive.
“It was a sense of as soon as I had an opportunity and a sniff, I needed to be able to take it, take the initiative,” she said of her tactics against French Open champion Swiatek.
“I felt I had a good balance of being able to run and move and neutralise. As soon as I was able to get a little bit of time on the ball, I was able to create with the forehand.”
The 22-year-old Russian-born Rybakina plans to be aggressive in her litmus test as she eyes a third career title.
“It’s great to play against the No. 1 to see what you missing in your game, what you need to improve,” she said. “Of course, I believe that if I’m going to play my best tomorrow, I will fight, that I can win.”
