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SPORTS Monday 4 noveMber 2019

Barty beats Svitolina to win

maiden WTA Finals title

By SANDRA HARWITT chances and that's what
Associated Press made the difference. But
SHENZHEN, China (AP) — she's No. 1 in the world for a
Ashleigh Barty added to reason, so."
a career year by winning The season isn't over for
her first WTA Finals title in Barty yet as she heads to
her first appearance at Perth to lead the Australian
the season-ending event Fed Cup team in the final
with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over against France next week-
defending champion Elina end.
Svitolina of Ukraine on Sun- "There's one more very im-
day. portant week to cap off
The title adds to the what would be the most
23-year-old Australian's perfect year," Barty said.
lengthy list of achieve- "This Fed Cup final is some-
ments in 2019 including her thing I've been looking for-
first Grand Slam title at the ward to for a long time.
French Open. "Playing for your country,
She also rose to the No. 1 for myself to play in front of Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates after winning the first set against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine
ranking in the game and my friends and family, rep- during the WTA Finals Tennis Tournament at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, China's
is now enjoying her 15th resenting Australia, wear- Guangdong province, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019.
week in the top spot, be- ing the green and gold. Associated Press
coming the first Australian There's absolutely nothing Barty takes home a record the WTA Finals title, the rich- sport.q
to hold the year-end top better." $4.42 million paycheck for est winner's prize ever in the
spot.
"It feels like it's been a year
that just hasn't stopped,"
Barty said.
"It's been a year of incred-
ible 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.
"To come through a week
like this, you have to beat
the best of the best."
Barty, who came through
the round-robin stand-
ings with a 2-1 record this
week, was unable to find a
breakthrough against Svi-
tolina until the 10th game
when she created three
break point opportunities,
finally taking advantage of
the third with a forehand
return winner to score the
opening set.
There were five service
breaks in the first eight
games of the second set,
leaving Barty leading 5-3
and serving for the match.
Svitolina smacked a back-
hand crosscourt way wide
on a second break point in
that eighth game to seal
her fate with Barty then
serving out the match at
love for her first career
victory over the Ukrainian
player in six matches.
"I think she was playing
great match today," Svito-
lina said.
"She was on it 100 per-
cent. Then it was very, very
tough.
"I missed just little bit of my