Barty Beats Svitolina to Win WTA Finals

November 4, 2019 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Barty_2019
Photo courtesy of USTA/Pete Staples

 

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty concluded a fantastic 2019 campaign by capturing the title at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen, China over the weekend, beating defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3 in the championship match.

Competing in the year-end event for the first time, Barty becomes the first Australian to hoist the trophy since Evonne Goolagong Cawley won the title in 1974 and 1976.

“It feels like it’s been a year that just hasn’t stopped,” said Barty. “It’s been a year of incredible ups and downs—I think more ups than downs. To cap it off with a very, very special night tonight in Shenzhen is really cool.”

Barty needed just one hour and 27 minutes to defeat Svitolina, saving 92 percent of the break points she faced, and converting on 60 percent of the break points she set up on Svitolina’s serve.

The Aussie will end the season with the top ranking in the world for the first time in her career.

“To be able to call myself the Year-End World No. 1 singles player is one of the proudest moments of my career,” she said. “This achievement is truly a team effort, and I would not be receiving this honor or had the best season of my life without the people around me who have supported me on this incredible journey.”

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
Pointset

March/April 2024 Digital Edition