WORLD number 1 Ash Barty added to her growing trophy cabinet and bank balance over the weekend with an impressive performance against reigning champion Elina Svitolina. It was a convincing performance by the Aussie, dismissing Svitolina in two sets 6-4, 6-3 to take home the WTA title.

It is the first time in five years that a world number one has won the title highlighting Barty’s skill and ability to sense the moment and seize it especially against her lower ranked opposition. The eighth ranked Svitolina only just made the cut into the WTA series but worked her way into the contest fighting hard and pushing Barty to her limits. But Barty proved more deadly on the serve sitting at a winning percentage of 66 per cent from the first serve compared to Svitolina’s 58 per cent. Her endurance, class and sheer knowledge particularly showed on the second serve with a whopping 74 per cent winning rate compared to a lowly 48 per cent from Svitolina with Barty making the most of her chances to dismiss her opponent with clever ball placement, precision and power. Despite history being heavily in Svitolina’s favour having won all of her previous encounters against Barty, the young Aussie went to work making the most of her damaging forehand to slice through Svitolina and run her off her feet. She constantly built pressure throughout the match winning nine consecutive points and three games in a row to worry the Ukrainian out of her normal game play and most importantly capitalise on her opportunities. The win caps off a stellar 2019 for Barty with the Aussie taking home roughly $16.37 million in prize money.

Barty overcame Karolina Pliskova in the semi-final in a tense three setter. Pliskova got the jump on Barty early before the 23-year-old put the foot down to win the next two games with ease 6-2, 6-3. Svitolina clawed her way back into the contest against Belinda Bencic dropping the first set but going onto win the second before Bencic retired hurt in the semi-final gifting the Ukrainian a shot at her second consecutive title. But it was not meant to be with Svitolina running into a red hot Barty who brought the fire power.

Barty is set to take place in the Fed Cup for Australia in hope to secure Australia their first win in 45 years.