Australian Open day nine: Ash Barty v Petra Kvitová – live!

First set: Barty* 5-4 Kvitová (* denotes server) Kvitová has few answers to Barty’s opening salvos this game, although a weak shot from the Australian into the net gives the Czech a sniff at 30-40. A double fault follows and having seemingly been cruising, Barty finds herself at deuce. But she then displays all her craft with a couple of perfectly-executed slices on the next rally, to set up game point and she emerges with a hold. Now would be a pretty good time for her to find another break…

First set: Barty 4-4 Kvitová* (* denotes server) Kvitová discards her headband midway through this game as things heat up on court, but her radar is off with an over-cooked volley at the net that goes out at the baseline to bring up deuce and offer Barty a glimmer of a break. She gets that chance soon enough but Kvitová saves it and goes on to hold. Barty blows out her cheeks as the opportunity lost. Still nothing to separate these two, and we’re all square in this first set.

First set: Barty* 4-3 Kvitová (* denotes server) Oof, Kvitová shows her class at 15-0 up on Barty’s serve, opening up her body to fire a beautiful forehand winner back past the Australian. A stunning backhand follows and the Czech has three break points… but Barty manages to save all three! Five deuces follow before another stunning hit from Kvitová’s forehand brings up another break opportunity… she’s wide of the mark though and we go to a sixth deuce… and then a seventh after a fifth break point is saved! Finally, after the longest game of the match by far, Barty manages to hold as we tick over the half-hour mark. Kvitová may have lost that game, but some of ball-hitting was the stuff of champions.

First set: Barty 3-3 Kvitová* (* denotes server) Another double fault from Kvitová puts the Czech in a spot of bother at 15-30 but she emerges with a much better serve down the T which Barty can only return into the net. She’s wild with a backhand on the next point though and Barty has a chance to break again… no dice this time though as Kvitová aces with impeccable timing. And another ace a point later eventually secures the hold.

First set: Barty* 3-2 Kvitová (* denotes server) Blink and you’ll miss it stuff now. And much better from Barty this time around with the ball in her hand as she races through a service game – the third game on the trot that ends to love. Back on serve on Rod Laver Arena.

First set: Barty 2-2 Kvitová* (* denotes server) But then, just like that, Kvitová wobbles with a poor service game, that includes her first two double faults of the day, allowing Barty to break back straight away with a love game of her own.

First set: Barty* 1-2 Kvitová (* denotes server) Here we go then, Kvitová continues her ominous start to this match with the first break of the day! To love at that, and secured with a belting forehand crosscourt winner that Barty can’t get anywhere near to. The Czech is looking good so far.

First set: Barty 1-1 Kvitová* (* denotes server) Kvitová sets out her stall early in an entirely more comfortable service game, which she wins to love. Probably a good time to remind yourselves of the Czech’s incredible journey over recent years, courtesy of this interview with Simon Hattenstone:

First set: Barty* 1-0 Kvitová (* denotes server) Here we go then, Barty to serve first. The Australian eases into the swing of things, opening up a 40-0 lead before Kvitová goes on the attack, moving aggressively into the net on several points and eventually bringing up a break point opportunity. Barty saves it though, and then her serve comes to the rescue as she manages to get herself out of a small hole and hold serve.

The players are out on the court, and have just finished warming up. “Ladies and gentlemen, find your seats quickly please,” says the umpire, and we’re just about ready to go.

Kenin, of the US, is through to her maiden grand slam semi-final, having just beaten Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 after an hour and 32 minutes in the first match of the day on Rod Laver. Kenin, the first woman through to the semis, will play the winner of Barty v Kvitová next. But the American 14th seed says she doesn’t care who she meets. “I’m in the semi-finals, at this point whoever I play they’re playing really well.” She’ll be watching on though. “I’ll watch it’ll be an exciting match.”