Ashleigh Barty is the first Australian woman to seize the world No.1 tennis ranking in almost half a century after claiming her third title of a phenomenal 2019 season.
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Barty cast friendship aside to down her German doubles partner Julia Goerges 6-3 7-5 in Sunday's final of the Birmingham Classic to not only secure the world No.1 ranking but also top-seeding status for Wimbledon starting on July 1.
Continuing her remarkable comeback to the sport after taking a 21-month hiatus and playing professional cricket, 23-year-old Barty will overtake Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka when the new rankings are released on Monday.
In doing so, the newly crowned French Open champion will join her mentor and Indigenous idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley as only the second Australian to top the WTA rankings since they were introduced in 1973.
A seven-times grand slam champion, Goolagong Cawley reached No.1 for a fortnight in 1976.
John Newcombe, Patrick Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt, who enjoyed 80 weeks at the summit between 2001 and 2003, are the only other Australians to have been world No.1.
"It's been a whirlwind three weeks for me. It's been a whirlwind year for me but to follow in the footsteps of Evonne, even to be mentioned in the same sentence as her is incredible," Barty said.
"What she's done for our sport for Australians all around the world, not just based in Australia, she's put us on the map, and what she's done for Indigenous Australians as well. She's just been remarkable."
Barty is the 27th woman to top the rankings - and the fourth-youngest in a decade.
"You always dream of it as a little kid for it but to become a reality, it's just incredible. It really is," said Barty, adding that she planned a low-key celebration with "certainly a beer or two".
"It's not something that was even in my realm. This year we were aiming for top 10 and now to be where we are is really a testament to all the people around me.
"I have the most incredible team with me who have been with me these last three years and started at scratch three years ago without a ranking and now to be where we are is not only for me but it's a massive, massive achievement for them."
With just five defeats in almost eight months and a tour-topping 36 wins already this year, Barty's ascension to the top is nothing but deserved.
Making a seamless transition from clay to grass, the Queenslander didn't drop a set in five matches in Birmingham.
Barty will head to Eastbourne on Monday for her last Wimbledon lead-up event riding a 12-match winning streak.
She also failed to surrender a set in her opening two doubles matches in Birmingham with Goerges before withdrawing from their scheduled semi-final to conserve energy for singles.
Merciless in her pursuit of more historic honours, Barty crunched nine aces, broke Goerges three times and dropped serve just once in clinching her sixth career title with victory over the world No.19.
Barty trailed 3-0 in the second set but, once again showing her champion qualities, she fought back in typically unflappable fashion, saving a set point at 5-4 down with her seventh ace before eventually prevailing after one hour and 28 minutes.
Australian Associated Press
