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After 41 long years, Australia has another Wimbledon women's singles finalist to savour after Ash Barty produced the performance of her life to defeat former champion Angelique Kerber in the last four.

Living up to her world No.1 billing, the Queenslander reckoned she'd never played such a fine match after prevailing 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in what she had called her "ultimate test" on Thursday against the rejuvenated three-time grand slam winner on Centre Court.

In truth, that ultimate test is yet to come on Saturday when Barty will tackle Karolina Pliskova, the tall, big-serving Czech who blitzed 14 aces as she tamed Aryna Sabalenka 5-7 6-4 6-4 in the other power-packed semi-final. 

Barty, the first Australian women's finalist since her idol and mentor, Evonne Goolagong, who won the title in 1971 and 1980, simply smiled: "Being able to play on the final Saturday here at Wimbledon is gonna be just the best experience ever!"

This can't have been far behind, though, for the popular figure from Ipswich as she became Australia's first singles finalist - man or woman - at the All England Club since Mark Philippoussis lost to Roger Federer in 2003.

And if she produces this quality in the final, having crashed down eight aces and 38 winners, including 18 whipped from her glorious forehand, the 25-year-old is in good shape to become the nation's third champion in the Open era after Margaret Court and Goolagong.

It was the highest quality women's match in the tournament, with Barty declaring to Centre Court: "This is incredible. This is as good as a tennis match as I'll ever play.

"I'm incredibly proud of myself and my team and now we get a chance on Saturday to live out a childhood dream.

Back on Centre Court where she's bloomed, first slowly and then majestically, into the tournament, Barty played her sharpest set of the fortnight in the opener before withstanding the sort of inspirational form from Kerber that took the German to the 2018 title.

Kerber's 33 now and has been on a downward spiral this past year with her ranking having plummeted to No.28.

But she won a pre-Wimbledon tournament in Bad Homburg and has been completely re-energised back at her happy Wimbledon hunting ground.

So Barty really did have to produce some supreme tennis to fight back from 5-2 down in the second set and prevail after playing an immaculate tiebreak to move into her second grand slam final after one hour 27 minutes.

The only time she'd looked nervous was at the very start, opening up with a double fault, but once she'd saved a couple of break points, she was quickly into a rhythmic stride.

Having dictated in the opening set, Barty suddenly found herself on the retreat at the start of the second as Kerber reprised some of the glorious tennis that had blown Serena Williams away in the final three years ago as she broke to race to a 3-0 lead.

"Angie is an incredible competitor. She brought out the best in me," reckoned Barty, who produced three exceptional games when 5-2 down.

"Being able to challenge myself against a champion like her, it was just nice to play a really good level throughout the whole match.

"I fought and scrapped when I had to, controlled the ball when I had to. That match was a great level, the best level I've played in quite some time."

Serving for the set, Kerber faltered, with Barty cashing in to earn a break to love with a scintillating cross-court forehand.

Then she took control, winning 10 straight points as she powered into a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak, with the help of two more killer forehands and an ace.

Kerber could only delay the inevitable, courageously saving three match points before finally netting a backhand as Barty celebrated becoming only the fourth Aussie women's finalist in the Open era after Court, Judy Tegart and Goolagong.

© AAP 2021

Image Credit:  Jed Leicester/AELTC Pool/PA Wire

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Marvel star Robert Downey Jr. has paid tribute to his late father who has died at 85.

The filmmaker, actor and father of Iron Man has died overnight in his sleep at his home in New York City.

Robert Downey Sr. suffered from Parkinson's disease for over five years.

His son, Robert Downey Jr. paid tribute on his Instagram, telling followers that his father was a "true maverick".

"Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s ..he was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout. According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years.

 

Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you."

 

 Robert Downey Sr. made a name for himself crafting and directing controversial anti-establishment films like Hugo Pool, Putney Swope and Greaser's Palace. He also acted in films such as To Live and Die in LA, Boogie Nights and Magnolia.

Tributes continue to flood in for the film industry icon.

Image Credit: Vincent Zafra / Illusion Story, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons & robertdowneyjr / Instagram

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Australians are predicted to continue spending more on booze despite consumption levels decreasing as new analysis suggests a shift away from beer.

Per capita spending is forecast to grow by 2.8 per cent annually between 2021 to 2025, despite individual consumption declining by an annual rate of 1.2 per cent, analysis by Fitch Solutions says.

The trend indicates consumers are "trading up" from high-volume/low-value drinks such as beer for more expensive competitors such as wine and spirits.

The average spend is predicted to grow from $974 per person in 2021 to $1116 in 2025, while consumption drops from 106.3 litres to 101.4 litres over the same time.

Beer is still predicted to lead the pack in total consumption figures (66 per cent) in 2025, with wine and spirits collectively making up just under 34 per cent.

This equates to an increase of just under one percentage point for vino and hard liquor combined, as ales and lagers drop as a result.

Previous analysis has shown a surge in sales of alcohol-free variants as zero per cent options of beer, wine and spirits flood the market.

The research comes as many Australians aiming to complete Dry July tick off their first alcohol-free week.

"Quitting alcohol for even a month can bring about plenty of positive health benefits in the short term, including improvements to your sleep; providing opportunities to increase healthy activities, and providing an opportunity to look objectively at the role of alcohol in your life," Sunshine Coast Health Service Director of Psychology Richard Spence-Thomas said.

"Laying off the booze can also improve your liver function, and even save you money."

© AAP 2021

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A $1 million reward has been announced for information about a fatal fire at Sydney's Luna Park more than 40 years ago after allegations the blaze was deliberately lit and linked to an underworld figure.

Seven people including six boys were killed in the blaze while riding the theme park's ghost train on the evening of June 9, 1979.

John Godson and his two sons Damien, 6, and Craig, 4, plus mates Jonathan Billings, Richard Carroll, Michael Johnson, and Seamus Rahilly, aged 12 to 13, were killed in the fire.

NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Wednesday said meeting with the victim's families convinced him more could be done to get answers.

"Despite the passage of time, this horrific incident remains embedded in the psyche of Sydneysiders," he said in a statement.

"I am appealing to those who may know something but have not previously been inclined to assist.

"You now have a million reasons to come forward."

The reward doesn't require a charge or conviction of any person, just fresh, significant information about the fire, he said.

Since the airing of an ABC TV investigation into the fire, the NSW Coroner has announced it will consider holding a fresh inquest, asking NSW police to review their evidence.

The TV program alleged the fire was intentionally lit by associates of Sydney underworld boss Abe Saffron, in a bid to secure the prime waterfront property, and that police helped cover up the crime.

Mr Saffron, who died in 2006, was a property developer who owned hotels and nightclubs, and was one of Sydney's major organised crime figures at the time of the fire.

Initial investigations pointed to an electrical fault and some subsequent inquiries proved inconclusive.

But NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller is hopeful reviewing the evidence with the advances made in investigation tools over the past four decades may bear fruit.

He also promised detectives would probe allegations of corruption or malpractice by police.

Detectives are pouring over a significant amount of evidence, including documents, video recordings, witness statements and forensic evidence.

That will take some time to complete, Homicide Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said.

"We know that the families who lost loved ones during this tragic fire have suffered immensely over the years, not knowing how and why their lives were cut short.

"Rest assured that if the NSW Police Force uncovers evidence to progress a criminal investigation into this historic event, then we will," Det Supt Doherty said.

© AAP 2021

Image Credit: Adam.J.W.C., CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons