‘Proud’ Ashleigh Barty completes ‘incredible year’ by winning WTA Finals

Ashleigh Barty has finished an outstanding 2019 campaign with the year-end WTA Finals trophy after beating defending champion Elina Svitolina in straight sets in Shenzhen.
The Roland Garros champion, who was already assured of the year-end No 1 ranking, produced a solid display to beat Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 in just under one hour and 30 minutes.
That’s the match and the title!@ashbarty beats Svitolina 6-4, 6-3 to win the Billie Jean King Trophy at the @SHISEIDO_corp @WTAFinals Shenzhen! pic.twitter.com/eiiiXs84rY
— WTA (@WTA) November 3, 2019
The first set was a titanic effort as the first break point of the match came in game nine, but the Ukrainian couldn’t take advantage and was then made to pay for it in the next game as Barty took the set on her third set point.
Svitolina then got her nose in front in the second set with a break in game three, but the world No 1 won the next three games only for the Ukrainian to get back on serve again in game seven.
However, the match was all but sealed in game eight as Barty got her third break of the set and then served it out.
“It has been an incredible year,” she told BT Sport after the match. “Tonight was about coming out and fighting to the end. I couldn’t be prouder.
“It was a slow court so I had to take chances and shift position more. I had to take chances even if it meant a few more errors.
“I’m proud of myself and the team, we tried to put ourselves in the biggest situations and occasions and we managed to do that.”
Barty goes home with a winner’s cheque of $4.42m.
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
Kevin Palmer
EXCLUSIVE – Leon Smith reflects on coaching Andy Murray and the role of the inspirational Judy Murray
Leon Smith looks back on his days coaching Andy Murray.
-
Tennis News
Alexander Zverev goes ‘back to his family roots’ as he leaves Roger Federer’s management firm
Alexander Zverev confirms changes to his team.
-
News
Tennis players’ isolation complaints given short shrift by Victorian Premier
A total of 72 players are unable to leave their rooms.
-
ATP Tour
Kevin Anderson on potential ATP-WTA merger: ‘There have been no real discussions’
No ATP-WTA merger talks underway.
-
Australian Open
‘Players upset’ over privileges afforded to Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem
“It’s not apples and apples here, but apples and pears.”
-
News
More Australian Open players go into isolation taking number up to 72
Forty-seven had already been quarantined.
-
News
How Australian Open players are keeping themselves occupied in quarantine
A total of 47 players forced to quarantine.
-
News
Australian Open preparations rocked by fourth positive Covid case
A positive test was returned on a charter flight from LA.
-
News
Players were made aware of isolation risks on arrival to Australia – Craig Tiley
Forty seven players to remain in their hotel rooms.