Watch: ‘Have the chance to live out a childhood dream’ – Ash Barty on reaching first Wimbledon final

Ashleigh Barty said she would be able to experience for real a childhood dream of playing in the Wimbledon final after she produced an impressive display to beat 2018 winner Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) on Thursday.

The 25-year-old Australian will play former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic in Saturday’s final.

“Angelique brought the best out of me and now I have a chance on Saturday to live out a childhood dream,” said Barty.

Barty – who won the junior title in 2011 – says she cannot put an age on when she dared to dream of winning Wimbledon.

“I think once you start playing more tennis when you’re younger, start understanding what is in the world of tennis, I think you dare to dream,” she said.

“I think it’s just about going out there and remembering how you felt as a kid, that there was the enjoyment, there was the freedom just to go out there and kind of try and do what you can.”

Barty is the first Australian woman to reach the final since her idol and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley won her second Wimbledon title in 1980.

“It’s incredible, it was as close to as good a tennis match that I have ever played,” said Barty…

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