Wimbledon has long had 'Middle Sunday' free from play and that has meant they have had the best single day of tennis you will see when the entire Fourth Round is played on Manic Monday. This tradition will end in 2022 as they look to become a Slam much more in line with the others.
The French Open will still be the only Grand Slam that will begin play on Sunday, but they have added a Night Session alongside the Australian Open and US Open to maximise profits. A not so impressive move is having two separate sessions for the Men's Semi Final.
For a long time the US Open put together 'Super Saturday'- it was a day when the Women's Final and two Men's Semi Final matches were played, but the second of the Men's Semi Final winners were long seen as being unfortunate to not have any time to prepare for the Sunday Final and it meant a change in the format.
This year the Australian Open will be changing- the Women's Semi Finals are both played on Thursday in the Night Session and both Men's Semi Final matches have been scheduled to be played on Friday. In previous years one of the Semi Finals were played on Thursday along with the Women's Semi Finals and that gave the winner a slight edge when it came to preparation for the Final.
The hope is that this will make the field a little more level and it is also gives the Ladies a chance to take the full limelight at the business end of the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty - 4.5 games v Madison Keys: If she is feeling the pressure, the tennis being produced by Ashleigh Barty is covering up any tension as she moves a step closer to becoming the first Australian to win the home Grand Slam since Christine O'Neil in 1978.
You couldn't even say that Ashleigh Barty started slowly in her Quarter Final win over Jessica Pegula, but the first five games were about as competitive as the match got as she rolled past her opponent in straight sets. Once again a player failed to win games against the World Number 1 and I do think Ashleigh Barty is looking the clear favourite to win the title here.
In saying that, Madison Keys may be the biggest threat left to Ashleigh Barty in the draw and that is the Semi Final opponent she is going to be facing on Thursday. The American has admitted that 2021 was a very difficult year for her, but Madison Keys was ready to give her team all the credit for helping her overcome some of the burden and allow her to play some of her best tennis this month.
Her numbers were really poor on the hard courts in 2021, but Madison Keys has opened the 2022 season with an 11-1 record and won a title in preparing for the Australian Open. She has dropped a single set at Melbourne Park and the crushing wins over Paula Badosa and Barbora Krejcikova are very impressive, although Madison Keys may feel she is going to have to be even better when facing the home favourite.
It can be argued that Ashleigh Barty has taken over from Naomi Osaka as the best player in the world on this surface and winning the Grand Slam will mean she holds two of the four. That will underline her position as the Number 1 Ranked player and I do think Ashleigh Barty is performing at a level that will be very difficult to contain.
Madison Keys has really been returning very well at the Australian Open, and her service numbers have been very strong, but both are not quite to where Ashleigh Barty has been at. And as well as Madison Keys has been playing, I expect Barty to put her under a lot more pressure than anyone else she has faced at the Australian Open.
You can't ignore the fact that Ashleigh Barty has enjoyed a pretty kind draw to the Semi Final, but her results have backed up how 'easy' she has found things. I can't rule out the fact that the Madison Keys serve could take the racquet out of the hands of the favourite, but Ashleigh Barty is a confident player and her variety may also give her an edge in this Semi Final.
It is the American who won the first meeting between the players back in 2017, but Ashleigh Barty won the last two, although both of those came in 2019. In those wins, Ashleigh Barty had a real edge on the return and I think she is going to have too much for Madison Keys in this match, even if the underdog will try and ease some pressure on herself by feeling she has already overachieved by reaching the Semi Final.
I am expecting a big-hitting match, but the steadiness and quality of Ashleigh Barty should be enough to see her book her place in the Australian Open Final on Saturday.
Danielle Collins v Iga Swiatek: The two contrasting manners of the Quarter Final wins may not mean a lot if these players were to have a day off between matches as they do through much of the Grand Slam.
However, the second Women's Semi Final is between two players who have played on Day 10 and are asked to be back out on court on Day 11 of the tournament. Danielle Collins made short work of Alize Cornet, but Iga Swiatek needed more than three hours to beat Kaia Kanepi and you have to believe that is a factor.
It is the second match in a row that the Polish player has needed to come from a set down and you have to wonder if the accumulated fatigue will wear her down. Iga Swiatek has also been trending in the wrong direction when it comes to her performances at the Australian Open with the numbers being a touch worse in each passing Round of the tournament.
She did play the big points pretty well in her win over Kaia Kanepi, but it was a tense match and I do wonder if Iga Swiatek is going to be able to cope with the pressure that will be exerted from the other side of the net. While Danielle Collins is known for being an emotional player, I think she is someone who has utter belief in her own game and the serve has proven to be a big weapon for her.
Moving through the Quarter Final without using too much physical or mental energy is really important at this stage of any Grand Slam tournament and I do think her numbers on return have been impressive enough to believe the American can reach her first Grand Slam Final. Surprise winners have been part of the Women's game in recent Slams and Danielle Collins may feel she can add her name to the list, although it will be a test for Collins having to deal with a new experience.
Danielle Collins looks to be in a more consistent place with her tennis and I think that is going to be the key in this second Semi Final. She looks a good shot as the outsider in this match and especially if Iga Swiatek has been worn down mentally and physically from the matches played on Day 10.
MY PICKS: Ashleigh Barty - 4.5 Games @ 1.85 Coral (2 Units)
Danielle Collins @ 2.40 Bet Victor (2 Units)
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