Ash Barty has won Wimbledon's battle of Australia on Centre Court, outplaying her long-shot compatriot Ajla Tomljanovic 6-1 6-3 with a virtuoso display to career into the semi-finals for the first time.
The quarter-final clash under the roof on another soggy day at SW19 ended up being as predictable as its billing on Tuesday with the world's finest woman player proving far too accomplished for the No.75 in the rankings.
Playing in her first-ever grand slam quarter-final at the 27th time of asking, the 28-year-old Tomljanovic was valiant but simply had no chance as Barty's all-court mastery saw her become the first Australian since Jelena Dokic in 2000 to make the last-four at Wimbledon.
"Ajla's an incredible competitor, I've practised with her a lot, we're Fed Cup teammates and she was always going to bring out the very best in me," Barty told the crowd after the two Aussies had hugged at the net.
"I think I had to play my absolute best to compete with her. She's had an incredible fortnight and I think all Aussies back home are bloody proud of her and it was really nice to share the court with her today.
"This is a dream come true, genuinely it is. I'm extremely grateful I've got an opportunity to come out here, have fun and live out what I have worked so hard to do."
After this 66-minute command performance, Barty will next play the 2018 champion Angelique Kerber in the semi-final after the rejuvenated German 25th seed had earlier outclassed Czech Karolina Muchova, the No.19 seed, 6-2 6-3 on No.1 Court.
Ashleigh Barty of Australia hits a ball during the quarterfinal against Ajla Tomljanović. Source: AP: Yomiuri Shimbun
"It's the ultimate test," said Barty, who's had two wins and two losses against the German previously.
"Angie's had success here before and had the best fortnight here possible and I love that match up. She's an incredible competitor and knows her way around this court."
Barty and Tomljanovic, who've never played a competitive match though they've practised together countless times, were playing the first all-Australian women's quarter-final at SW19 since Evonne Goolagong Cawley beat Wendy Turnbull 41 years ago.
Barty will be hoping it's a happy omen as Goolagong Cawley went on to win in 1980 and now she's just two matches away from becoming an Indigenous Australian champion herself, half a century since her idol and mentor won her first title here.
Again wearing a version of the iconic scalloped dress that Goolagong wore in that first 1971 title run, Barty's natural fluid game, with an extra layer of power, again evoked memories of the great ex-champion as she swept to victory with six breaks of serve.
Tomljanovic won her opening service game to love, but was then dismantled by Barty's array of shot-making as the former French Open champ swept through the first set in just 24 minutes.
Barty lost a careless service game at the start of the second but quickly reasserted control, with her glorious whip-like forehand earning winner after winner - 17 in all from that wing among the 23 she totalled over the match.
Tomljanovic, who's enjoyed a great breakthrough tournament, fought back with spirit as Barty earned break points to move 5-1 up.
The Croatian-born player rescued that game and even broke again to reduce the arrears to 4-3.
Yet once Barty had cracked another couple of forehand tracers to break her for 5-3, she quickly sealed the deal with her fifth ace of the match to take her tally to 38 for the tournament.
