World number 1 Ashleigh Barty has a place in the top WTA Finals in Shenzhen and will challenge defending champion Elina Svitolina – a player she has never defeated in five previous meetings.
Like Svitolina, Australian, Barty missed the first set in the semifinal before defeating world number 2 Karolina Svitolina from Czech with 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“I feel that all the matches are at a very high level. I just feel happy to get the opportunity to play in this tournament. It was a match that could make me exert my abilities and enjoy it. I don’t feel burdened, “said Barty.
This season has been an impressive season for Barty who won the first Grand Slam title in his career at the French Open and was ranked world number one for the first time in his career.
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In addition, Ashleigh Barty also became the first Australian woman to become world number 1 at the end of the season.
“This season is an extraordinary season for me and my team. The final in this tournament is the perfect way to close it, “said Barty.
Svitolina realizes he has a chance to finally defeat Svitolina. “I have the opportunity to try something different. At the previous meeting, the things we did didn’t work so well or I haven’t been able to execute my game plan well enough. “
Meanwhile, for the third time in a row Pliskova has qualified for the WTA Finals semifinals, but she still hasn’t had the chance to taste the top party.
We know in advance, After showing maximum performance, Australian, Barty succeeded in silencing the sixth seed, Petra Kvitova with 6-4, 6-2 in 1 hour 29 minutes.
Entering this season, Barty trailed 0-4 in head to head against Czech, Kvitova, including in the tournament at home, the final in Sydney and the quarterfinals at Melbourne (Australian Open).
But since then, Barty has not let Kvitova dominate by winning three matches in a row, namely in the quarterfinals of Miami and Beijing and this meeting. In addition, this victory puts Barty at the helm of the Red Group and second place will be determined from the results of the Belinda Bencic match against Kiki Bertens.
“I think, competing against Petra is one of the things I favor to do. Lose or win, the match becomes an epic match and is played with the right fighting spirit.
I just enjoy the challenge of playing against Petra. He really made me bring out my best, “said Barty. “Fighting it is a challenge that I like. It was a challenge that made me excited. I think, every time I compete against him, I become a better tennis player by learning from everything that happens during the match. ”
