Ash Barty’s coach Craig Tyzzer says the world number one can still improve ahead of her appearance in the Australian Open semi-finals.

Barty had no problem advancing to the last four at Melbourne Park for the second time in his career.

She is yet to drop a set and her serve has only been interrupted once in her five tournament matches.

The two-time major champion advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-0 win over 21st seeded USA Jessica Pegula.

Tyzzer said he was happy with Barty’s form but thought his charge could play better as they prepare to face former top-10 player Madison Keys in the semifinals on Thursday.

“I don’t feel like she’s played her best tennis here yet, which is great in that sense,” Tyzzer said.

“Obviously Maddie is going to be a huge challenge. Such a powerful athlete and such a powerful game. Ash must be really turned on to compete in a contest there.”

Coming off of a 2021 season that included winning the Wimbledon Championship, Tyzzer said Barty feels she didn’t always hit her peak last year.

“We talked about his best games,” he said.

“Ash said there were probably four times where she felt like she was playing her best tennis. It was seven and a half months of tennis.

“I think it’s her ability to – on the days she’s not playing well – still look like she’s playing well and still being able to compete.

“Whether or not she brings in her margins or fixes something or tries something different, she’s more able to handle the days when it’s not so good.

“I don’t think from the outside you can tell. It’s probably the same with most top players. Their level of consistency is huge.

“Even if you look at them, you can’t tell much difference.”

Barty only focused on the next game

It’s been 44 years since a local won the Australian Open women’s singles championship, a drought that dates back to Chris O’Neil’s victory in 1978.

Barty is the closest to breaking through in recent times, with a semi-final appearance in 2020 her best showing.

Breaking the drought, however, is something his “team” doesn’t discuss, according to Tyzzer.

He said Barty’s approach was always to just focus on his next game.

“We don’t talk about it at all,” Tyzzer said.

“We do the same preparation for every game. We don’t want to bring anything new or do more than what it really is.

“That’s really what she needs to do in the next game, in our opinion, because you could basically be out in your next game.”