Barty to face Svitolina in WTA Finals title decider

SHENZHEN: Top-ranked Ashleigh Barty advanced to the final of the WTA Finals where she faces defending champion Elina Svitolina, a player she has never beaten in five previous attempts.

Barty, like Svitolina, dropped the opening set of her semi-final before beating second-ranked Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I felt like the whole match was an incredibly high level,” Barty said.

“I’m just pleased to get another chance to play out here.

“It’s a match I can come out and try to enjoy. “I have nothing to lose. It’s an opportunity against a really tough player.”

Belinda Bencic retired in the third set as Svitolina outlasted the injured Swiss to win 5-7, 6-3, 4-1 and reach her second straight final at the WTA Finals.

“It’s still kind of like not realising that I’m in the final,” Svitolina said, but added “it’s tough to play someone who has been injured”.

This has been a standout season for Barty, who won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, and attained top ranking for the first time. Barty is Australia’s first female year-end No. 1. Barty said “it’s been an incredible year for myself and my team”, and called the final “the perfect way to cap it off”.

She is relishing the opportunity to try and finally beat Svitolina.

“I have an opportunity to try something different,” Barty said.

“Previously what we’ve done hasn’t quite worked or I haven’t executed well enough over a long enough period to be effective.”