Ash Barty of Australia plays a backhand return to Madison Keys of the US during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan 27, 2022. (TERTIUS PICKARD / AP)

MELBOURNE - Ash Barty will carry the weight of a nation on her shoulders when she faces big-hitting American Danielle Collins in Saturday's Australian Open final, as she seeks to end her country's 44-year wait for a home champion.

The world number one has lost just 21 games to reach her maiden final at Melbourne Park and is primed to become the first local since Chris O'Neil in 1978 to win the Australian Open.

Barty, who won the 2019 French Open and is the reigning Wimbledon champion, is also unbeaten in 10 matches this season and warmed up for the first Grand Slam of the year with a WTA 500 title in a tune-up tournament in Adelaide.

Standing in the Australian's way is Collins, a first-time Grand Slam finalist. The American is a big underdog but Barty is not underestimating her.

"She's an exceptional ball striker," Barty said of her 28-year-old opponent, whom she has beaten in three of their four previous matchups, though Collins won the most recent in Adelaide last year.

"She's someone who stands on the baseline and can hit all spots of the court from any position. I think the challenge is going to be trying to get her off-balance.

"I think the way she's able to control the baseline and really take the game on she's one of the most fierce competitors out here. She loves to get in your face and loves to really take it on."

Collins, ranked 30th in the world, will break into the top 10 when the rankings are updated on Monday.

Twice an NCAA champion, Danielle Collins has continued the strong run for American women at Melbourne Park, becoming the third straight US finalist after Jennifer Brady last year and Sofia Kenin in 2020

She is hopeful she can finally realize her full potential after undergoing surgery last April to have a cyst the size of a tennis ball removed.

Twice an NCAA champion, Collins has continued the strong run for American women at Melbourne Park, becoming the third straight US finalist after Jennifer Brady last year and Sofia Kenin in 2020.

Collins is aware she will have to contend with raucous support for Barty from the Rod Laver Arena stands but the American said she enjoys playing in front of people — even if the crowd is against her.

"Something I really admire about Ash's game is her variety, playing a different game style than pretty much all of the players on tour," said the American.

Barty, 25, has proved she can neutralise the power-hitters, eliminating the likes of Camila Giorgi, Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys over the past two weeks.

The big unknown is how she handles the pressure of her first Australian Open final.

Rafael Nadal (right) of Spain is congratulated by Matteo Berrettini of Italy after their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan 28, 2022. (ANDY BROWNBILL / AP)

ALSO READ: Nadal survives Shapovalov scare to keep record bid intact

Rafa Nadal stood one win away from a men's record 21st Grand Slam singles title after overpowering Italian seventh seed Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3 on Friday to reach the Australian Open final.

A win for the Spaniard in Sunday's final against either Daniil Medvedev or Stefanos Tsitsipas will break a three-way tie with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer and give him sole ownership of the record.

With rain bucketing down outside, Rafael Nadal made a fast start under the closed roof of the Rod Laver Arena and took control by breaking Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini's serve early in each of the first two sets

With rain bucketing down outside, the 35-year-old Nadal made a fast start under the closed roof of the Rod Laver Arena and took control by breaking Wimbledon finalist Berrettini's serve early in each of the first two sets.

Nadal's vicious top-spin forehand did most of the damage early on, pinning Berrettini down behind the baseline and leaving him very little time to produce his big groundstrokes.

"I started the match playing great. First two sets have been one of the best so far since a long time," Nadal said on court.

"I know how good is Matteo. He's a very solid player, very dangerous. In the third I knew at some point he's gonna go for the shots.

"We need to suffer and we need to fight. That is the only way to be where I am today. Honestly, it means a lot to me to be in the final here again."

Berrettini started forcing Nadal back with heavy forehands in the third set and a first break of serve for the 25-year-old Italian in the eighth game forced a fourth.

READ MORE: Berrettini seals ATP Finals spot, two places still up for grabs

Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand return to Matteo Berrettini of Italy during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Jan 28, 2022. (TERTIUS PICKARD / AP)

Nadal then got the crucial break in the eighth game as the Italian's unforced errors increased and another mistake — his 39th compared to his opponent's 19 — allowed the 2009 champion to convert his first matchpoint after a battle that lasted two hours and 55 minutes.

It will be the 29th major final for Nadal on Sunday and asecond title at Melbourne Park would make him only the second man after Djokovic to win every Grand Slam title twice since the sport became professional in 1968.

Given the interest in the final, the Victorian government accepted a Tennis Australia request on Friday and increased the crowd capacity by 15 percent to 80 percent with some extra tickets going on sale for the finals weekend.