Barty will edge ahead of Naomi Osaka at the top of the rankings before Wimbledon by taking the title and she extended her winning streak to 10 matches against the five-time Wimbledon champion.

If Barty loses the Birmingham final, she will be just two points behind Osaka — 6377 to 6375. But winning the title would push Barty to 6540 points.

Evonne Goolagong is the last Australian woman to stand atop the world rankings, enjoying a two-week stint in 1976.

Barty’s semifinal is against World No. 51 Barbara Strycova on Saturday at 8.30pm (AEST), where she can continue an incredible three-year rise that has seen her climb from world number 632 after a short stint as a Big Bash League cricketer.

The Queenslander showed she’s lost none of her red ball skills by playing a perfect forward defence against Williams.

“I feel like every match is getting a little bit better and better on the grass, and it’s just nice to give myself another opportunity to get on the grass courts and to play another singles match,” said Barty.

“It’s always a privilege to play against a champion like Venus. She’s done incredible things for our sport. She’s inspired generations to pick up a tennis racquet. Any time you get to play against her, it’s a real privilege.”

Williams made the better start as the 39-year-old took a 4-1 first-set lead. Barty, though, is also at ease on the grass and responded in style by romping through the next five games to take the set.

The Australian had to stave off break points in her opening service game of the second set, but then took control with two breaks of the Williams serve to set up a meeting with Strycova in Saturday’s semi-finals.

Strycova got the better of an all-Czech battle to beat Kristyna Pliskova 6-2 6-4 to reach the last four in Birmingham for the fourth time in six appearances.

In the other semi-final, World No. 19 Julia Goerges takes on Petra Martic, who survived five match points to oust former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Martic, ranked 25th in the world, trailed 5-2 in the second set having lost the first on a tie-break, but rallied to win the next five games before tearingthrough the third 6-1.

“I still can’t believe that I won this match,” said Martic.

Goerges, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2018, was far more comfortable in a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yulia Putintseva who knocked out world number one Naomi Osaka to open the door for Barty.

KYRGIOS HEAVILY FINED FOR QUEEN’S ANTICS

Nick Kyrgios was fined $25,266 for his controversial behaviour over two rounds at the Queen’s Club tournament.

The 24-year-old, who last month was disqualified from the Italian Open for throwing a chair across court, accused a line-judge of “match-rigging” during his first round match with Roberto Carballes Baena over what he thought was a poor line call.

He threatened to walk off court before resuming and winning the match, although not before making fun of umpire Fergus Murphy’s hat and seemingly losing interest in his match by peering over the fence to watch another.

Kyrgios had not calmed down by the time he confronted Canadian teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime later the same day.

His racket went flying over the stand of the court after the 18-year-old broke him to win the third set 7-5 and the match.

The ATP supervisor ruled Kyrgios should be fined $7,500 for two separate counts of unsportsmanlike behaviour in the first round match and $10,000 for his behaviour in the Auger-Aliassime clash.

Kyrgios also lashed out at a press conference accusing the ATP of double standards with no punishment for officials who make bad calls.