Tokyo Olympics: Ash Barty and John Beers through to mixed doubles finals

Huge night in Tokyo for embattled Ash Barty as she serves up an impressive performance with John Peers to sail into mixed doubles semi-finals after a disastrous start to the Games

  • Ash Barty and John Peers reached the final four of the Olympics mixed doubles
  • The Wimbledon champion had struggled so far at the Tokyo Games 

Ash Barty and John Peers have reached the final four of the Olympic mixed doubles, thriving in the deciding match tie-break to beat the Stefano Tsitsipas-powered Greece 6-4 4-6 10-6.

The Australians lifted in the deciding first-to-10 tie-break after a scrappy match from both teams, world No.4 Tsitsipas and No.19 Maria Sakkari ruing costly errors that led to the decisive break of serve in the first set.

Tsitsipas came from 0-30 on serve to close out the second set, but Australia shone in the match tie-break, a reflex volley from doubles specialist Peers the catalyst as they went from 2-2 to an 8-4 lead.

Fresh off her Wimbledon title, world No.1 Barty had endured a forgettable Tokyo campaign when she lost her first-round singles match and then a tight women’s doubles quarter-final with Storm Sanders on Wednesday.

Ash Barty and John Peers (pictured on Thursday night) have reached the final four of the Olympic mixed doubles, thriving in the deciding match tie-break to beat the Stefano Tsitsipas-powered Greece 6-4 4-6 10-6

But it could be third time lucky in her pursuit of Olympic gold, alongside long-time friend and doubles specialist Peers.

They will play Russian duo Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev for a spot in the gold medal match, while a loss will see them fighting for bronze.

Peers and Barty have long been friends, playing together before Barty took a break from tennis and then even living with the Peers family when she returned to the sport in 2016.

‘For Johnny and I this is a really, really special moment to make Mama Peers proud,’ Barty said ahead of their campaign on Wednesday.

The pair (pictured on Thursday after the won the match) will play Russian duo Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev for a spot in the gold medal match, while a loss will see them fighting for bronze

The pair (pictured on Thursday after the won the match) will play Russian duo Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Andrey Rublev for a spot in the gold medal match, while a loss will see them fighting for bronze

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