Kenin pushes Barty deep with a backhand right on the baseline. She quickly moves up to 40-0 but the Aussie lobs her to get on the board.

A long forehand from Barty gives the American the hold.

James McCann: This isn't gonna be popular with our cousins down under but I find Barty extremely hard to relate to. At least Kenin's showing some passion!

Barty is a bag of nerves. She said before the match she wasn't paying attention to the pressure of trying to become the first Australian woman in 40 years to reach the final in Melbourne.

But it's clear she's feeling the pressure. Too many loose backhands - 21 unforced errors in total. She looks tight in every swing, though she's managed to pull out 22 winners.

Kenin hasn't played her best either but she's doing enough.

Barty plants the return straight into the net.

Kenin fist-pumps and roars. She's got the first set in the bag.

Brilliant from Kenin, who reads the drop shot and the lob and finishes it off with a forehand into the corner.

Set point for the American.

The first is saved as Barty plays another loose backhand. Kenin then produces a sublime forehand pass to bring it back on level terms.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Barty keeps flitting between nervy misses and confident winners. And the mood is reflected by the home crowd, which is with her on every twist and turn.

The contrasting emotions were neatly summed up in two successive points there: a wild forehand long immediately followed by a thumping winner.

That's the one! Barty slams a backhand return cross-court. Kenin bounces her racquet into the ground in frustration.

That's two set points for Barty.

A few slices from Barty brings up "oohs" from the crowd. She works the point to open up the forehand winner but absolutely hoofs it wide. Wow!

She recovers to play a big forehand winner into the corner.

Barty swings a forehand winner down the line. One of her best shots of the match! She's up another mini-break.

Kenin then gets her first serve in and Barty plonks it into the net.

Ace number eight from Barty. And another big one down the middle which is returned straight into the net.

Another mistake from Barty and Kenin gets the lob in. She roars in celebration as she gets the early mini-break.

Barty immediately breaks back but Kenin puts away the volley

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

A sea of royal blue seats have emptied in the parts of Laver getting scorched.

Those who are still sitting it out are using their fans better than a Flamenco dancer.

Image source, BBC Sport

Nice slice from Kenin to bring up 30-15 but her next attempt at one is poor. 30-30.

Kenin's backhand looked long but Barty doesn't challenge and the American puts away the forehand into the open court.

Barty can't reach the next forehand and we're into a tie-break.

Work to do but Barty hasn't dropped serve yet. Can she get a crucial break here? Or are we heading to a tie-break?

Image source, Getty Images

Better from Barty, who pings a cross-court winner off the forehand. She holds with an ace.

An ace gives Barty the advantage and she has the open court to place a forehand into but she completely skews it.

Barty regains advantage with a long slice from Kenin but the American then whips a lovely forehand around the net pole. Deuce.

Kenin is helped out by a few loose shots from Barty to move 30-0 up but she grows agitated with a wild forehand of her own.

Barty recovers to swing through a forehand winner but catches the next return late. Deuce.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

Other than that Kenin service game at 3-2, both players have been comfortable with the ball in hand.

Barty has won 20 of her 24 points on serve...

Barty is really struggling with that backhand. 15 unforced errors so far. There's not been too much quality in the match.

Kenin just needs to remain solid but she's understandably nervous too.

Image source, Getty Images