Australian star Ash Barty is just two wins away from becoming world number one after she defeated Venus Williams to reach the semi-finals of the Birmingham Classic. 

Ashleigh Barty is one match away from becoming the first Australian to be crowned women's world number one in 43 years after progressing to the final of the Nature Valley Classic.

Serena Williams (pictured), 37, snubbed Barty, 23, at her pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday. Barty rose to number one after winning Birmingham Classic and French Open.

As the top women's seed, Ashleigh Barty, the world No 1 and newly crowned French Open champion, has every right to feel there is a weight of expectation on her shoulders.

Barty, chasing back-to-back grand slams following her French Open success last month, beat the Belgian 6-1 6-3 to advance to the third round on Thursday.

Ash Barty took less than an hour to defeat Alison Van Uytvanck at Wimbledon on Thursday and addressed a snub from Serena Williams made earlier during a press conference.

When Queenslander Ash Barty won her first grand slam tennis title at the French Open in June she celebrated by going out for beer and steak. 

Ashleigh Barty is poised to crown her phenomenal season by becoming the first Australian woman to ever top the year-ending tennis rankings.

French Open champion Barty, who had been beaten twice by Kvitova in Australia earlier this year, fired nine aces and converted three of six break points to win the encounter.

Japan's Naomi Osaka fought back from a set down to beat Australian world number one Ash Barty 3-6 6-3 6-2 in the final of the China Open in Beijing on Sunday.

Ashleigh Barty's coach can pinpoint the moment when the Australian morphed from good to a great.

Obama's encouraging words were issued in a tweet on Wednesday ahead of Canada's federal election next week, in which Liberal Trudeau is widely tipped to be defeated by Conservatives

In stormy exchanges at the European Parliament, Nigel Farage condemned the behaviour of Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel and warned that the UK must go for a 'clean break' from the bloc.

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Farage now accepts that the only way we're going to escape the suffocating embrace of the European Union is by electing a Conservative government led by Boris Johnson.

Nigel Farage today said he will miss being the European Union's 'pantomime villain' as he predicted the UK's departure from the bloc will herald its demise.

Leonardo DiCaprio reunited with his longtime collaborator, director Martin Scorsese, and his Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Al Pacino at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

There might be a beautiful model at his side, but Leonardo DiCaprio had emails to answer.

Victoria Silvstedt turned heads as she hit the beach in a yellow ruffle bikini in St Barts on Wednesday.

PETE JENSON AT THE NOU CAMP: Career goal number 600 for Lionel Messi, it was special, it broke another record and it probably won the league for Barcelona.

The pair traded barbs during Costa's stand-off, in which he accused the club of treating him like a 'criminal', before he compelted his return to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea's season may not have stopped with the defeat to Barcelona on Wednesday night, but it is now chugging along in first gear, with the engine making some rattling noises.

Diego Costa has hinted at Antoine Griezmann's imminent departure but said the French forward is completely focused on first winning the Europa League with Atletico Madrid.

Ousmane Dembele came off the bench to rescue a point for Barcelona in their highly-anticipated showdown with Atletico Madrid. Relive all the action with Sportsmail's MAX WINTERS here.

The visitors battled on despite their numerical disadvantage and did excellently to frustrate Barca for so long. Oblak made nine saves before being beaten by Suarez's fine strike on 86 minutes.

Gerard Pique was pictured having a word in Diego Costa's ear as he walked towards the tunnel, with some suggesting he was trying to wind-up the Spain striker.

The pop star rivals donned drag queen-worthy jumpsuits onstage the Allstate Arena in Rosemont

Katy Perry showcased her growing baby bump on Instagram Live for her followers on Tuesday during a chat with singer, Cyn. The beauty also spoke about lockdown with Orlando Bloom.

The disgraced footy bad boy, 30, is accused of punching the brother of his wife Ainslie Currie in the face at a pub in his hometown of Mackay in central Queensland last Friday.

The sacked North Queensland Cowboy faced Mackay Local Court on Tuesday charged with punching Adrian Currie, the brother of his girlfriend Ainslie, at a pub on February 22.

The 23-year-old model put on quite the racy display as she hit the beach with some pals in St. Bart's on Sunday.

Longchamp ambassador Kendall Jenner showed off her coveted, long legs in a series of new ads unveiled Friday. The 24-year old model sported multiple looks, showcasing her gorgeous gams.

Urbnsurf Melbourne is Australia's first wave park, and Daily Mail Australia reporter Jackson Barron was invited down to test their facilities before the grand opening in January.

Keith Cooper, the former Vice President of training and professional services at Boeing, was fired on Wednesday over shocking internal messages between employees about the grounded 737 Max.

It'll be years before he is eligible to vote, but Barron Trump is already the spitting image of father as he made his first appearance at the Republican National Convention Thursday.

Charlotte Awbery, who went viral with a cover of Shallow on the London Underground, revealed on Lorraine that she used to work as a 'chauffeur and barmaid' while performing on the weekends.

'Dear Class of 2020' will premiere June 6 on the YouTube Originals channel. Barack and Michelle Obama will deliver commencement addresses to all students graduating this year.

Jonathan Barnett has negotiated over £1billion in active contracts and transfer fees with possible commissions exceeding £99m to rise to the summit, according to Forbes.

Gareth Bale's agent has warned people not to 'believe everything you hear' amid talk the Welsh attacker will make the move to the Chinese Super League in the January transfer window.

PETE JENSON: Gareth Bale was whistled by Real Madrid supporters in his first game back since his Wales flag celebration and Zinedine Zidane admitted the situation was unsustainable.

PETE JENSON IN SPAIN: Real Madrid's injury crisis might be giving Zinedine Zidane a headache but the one player he is desperate to not be without for Barcelona plays in midfield.

PETE JENSON AT THE NOU CAMP: The last there was a 0-0 between Barcelona and Real Madrid in La Liga someone had launched a pig's head onto the pitch at Luis Figo back in 2002.

We've got a full weekend of LaLiga action ahead, with the league still wide open at both ends of the table. Barcelona and Real Madrid can hardly be separated at this stage of the season.  

Kris Jenner needed a little 'me' time following the family-packed holiday season. The 64-year-old was seen Thursday evening enjoying the finer things in life during a solo getaway to St. Barts.

The A-list momager treated herself to a bit of shopping before some boat time while in St. Barts after Christmas. Jenner, 64, looked like she was in the mood for luxury as she stepped out.

Kris Jenner was in full glam on Saturday evening for a dinner on a boat with her boyfriend Corey Gamble in St. Baths.

Kris recently joined her girls for their annual holiday party, hosted this year by daughter Khloé Kardashian. The extravagant event featured performances by Sia and the Sunday Service choir.

Kris Jenner rocked a glamorous black feathered coat on Monday as she and her boyfriend Corey Gamble enjoyed a night out. Earlier, the couple enjoyed time together on a boat.

'The noble people of Iran-who love America-deserve a government that's more interested in helping them achieve their dreams than killing them for demanding respect,' Trump tweeted on Friday.

In one of the bloodiest assaults since the beginning of the civil war, ballistic missiles ripped through the holy building at a military training camp in the central province of Marib.

Laura Chaisty, from Oxfordshire, arrived home to find a Royal Mail 'Something For You' note, alerting her to the fact that a parcel had been thrown through an open upstairs window.