Kvitova crashes Barty party to reach semi-finals

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A ruthless Petra Kvitova trampled on the hopes of the host nation at the Australian Open on Sunday by thrashing Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-4 to reach her first Grand Slam semi-finals in five years.

The twice Wimbledon champion will meet American sensation Danielle Collins on Thursday for a place in the final, less than two years after bravely returning to the tour after a traumatic attack by a knife-wielding home intruder.

The weight of her achievement proved overwhelming for the tall 28-year-old, who cried during her on-court interview at Rod Laver Arena.

“Really, I didn’t really imagine to be back at this great stadium with the best. And it’s great,” a teary-eyed Kvitova said.

“I always wanted to come back and play on the highest level I can, compete with the best, play the Grand Slams, actually be very deep in the Grand Slam, which is happening,” she told reporters.

“Yeah, it just took me a bit to the tears, but it was happy tears, for sure.”

The left-hander has not been to the last four of a Grand Slam since the second of her Wimbledon titles in 2014. She doubted she would ever make it back after forced out of the game for a period in 2017 to recover from hand surgery in the wake of the attack.

Her win over Barty, the last Australian at the tournament, had the added effect of dislodging Simona Halep from the world number one ranking.

Kvitova is now riding a 10-match winning streak, having won the Sydney International warmup where she edged Barty in the final.

She has not lost a set at Melbourne Park and is playing the sort of tennis that could bring her a third Grand Slam title.