Kvetova crushed Barty and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Petra Kvetova beat Australian hopes of a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ashley Barty to reach the semifinals of the Australian Open on Tuesday.

The Wimbledon champions have twice paralyzed the organizers at the innovative stadium Ruud Lever after the end of the first set in 27 minutes and some fans are still sitting in their place.

Barty, eighth seeded, met more resistance in Barty's second set, but beat the Aussie in the ninth match before the end of the win, after Barty, 15, hit the ball at the bottom of the nets.

The Czechs, who reached the semifinals of Melbourne Park in 2012, have returned to the semifinals of a major tournament for the first time since they won their second title at Wimbledon in 2014.

She will meet undefeated American Daniel Collins in the final.

(Reuters)