Lee Jin-Man/Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s biggest hopes in decades for a homegrown Australian Open singles champion ended in the semifinals on Thursday, when the top-seeded Ashleigh Barty lost to the American Sofia Kenin, 7-6 (6), 7-5.
In the final on Saturday, the 14th-seeded Kenin will face the winner of Thursday’s second semifinal between fourth-seeded Simona Halep and unseeded Garbiñe Muguruza, both of whom are two-time Grand Slam champions who have been ranked No. 1.
The Russian-born Kenin, 21, had not advanced past the fourth round at a Grand Slam in her 11 main-draw appearances before this tournament.