Kate Ceberano belts out a tune at the Australian Open ahead of Ash Barty’s semi-final match

Ash Barty is currently carrying Australia’s singles tennis hopes on her shoulders at the Australian Open.

And another local icon, Kate Ceberano, was charged with entertaining the crowd ahead of the 25-year-old athlete’s semi-final match on Thursday.

The 55-year-old singer belted out a song for the Melbourne Park crowd before Barty blew past American Madison Keys in a lopsided 6-1, 6-3 victory.  

The Bedroom Eyes hitmaker clad herself in a long-sleeved red dress for her pre-match entertainment.

The garment featured a large, lacy heart in the centre of Kate’s chest.

Her wavy, raven tresses were worn loose and flowing and her face was framed by a heavy fringe. 

Kate’s performance comes after the singer revealed she will no longer sing one of her biggest hits because she feels it’s too ‘yuck’ to perform these days.

Appearing on The Sunday Project last year, Kate was asked by host Tommy Little if ‘young boys were still her weakness’ – a reference to her 1989 single, Young Boys Are My Weakness.

The performer replied, laughing: ‘No, I think we’re going to leave those things to the kerb-side.

‘It seemed to be cute at the time and I remember as a 17-year-old girl, “Young boys are my weakness.” As a 50 plus woman, it is just yuck.’  

Meanwhile, Barty easily accounted for the 51st ranked Keys on Thursday night, becoming the first Australian woman to make her home Grand Slam final in 42 years.

The Ipswich-born sports superstar has cruised through the Australian Open women’s singles so far, not dropping a set en route to the final.

She is currently the top ranked woman’s player in the world, and is only the second Australian WTA singles No. 1 after fellow First Nations Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley.