World No.1 Ashleigh Barty clinches her maiden title at Shiseido WTA Finals 2019 Shenzhen after defeating the defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-4 in the finals on Sunday. With this victory, Barty also earns the biggest cash of $4.42 Million in tennis.
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Set one
Ashleigh Barty and Elina Svitolina began with a very solid opening service games. The first breakpoint opportunity came after 32 minutes into the match as Svitolina finally got a chance to get the breakthrough when the Australian was serving at 4-4. However, the Ukranian squandered the opportunity as she netted a forehand and Ashleigh Barty secure a great hold with some brilliant serving efforts.
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Barry carried her momentum to the next game as she moved up 0-30 with two solid returns but then threw in a couple of routine errors. It looked like she had missed her chance at 40-30, but she kept on attacking and hit two forehand winners to earn a set point before missing a forehand at the set point.
Finally, Ashleigh Barty stepped in on Svitolina’s second serve and slotted a forehand return winner to take the first set 6-4 in 57 minutes.
The first set in Shenzhen goes @AshBarty's way, 6-4.
Will she close out reigning champion Elina Svitolina in straight sets, or will the Ukrainian force a decider?
Follow scores: https://t.co/g8XEir2BTx #WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/uuPU8NAvt9
— TENNIS (@Tennis) November 3, 2019
Set two
Barty lost concentration after holding her opening service game and winning three consecutive games as she threw in a couple of loose shots followed by a double fault on breakpoint to bring Elina Svitolina back in the match.
In the next game, Svitolina cruised to 30-0 up before the World No.1 won three consecutive points on her way to break back and get back serve at 2-2.
Svitolina’s coach Andrew Bettles was on-court at the changeover after Barty held her at love to take the scoreboard to 3-2 and he offered her plenty of encouragement to the Ukranian star –
Bettles: We're talking about a couple of points difference, whatever happens for the rest of the match, stay positive. Go out there with renewed purpose. Stay with the hard shots into the backhand side, hard and fast. Quality into that backhand side.
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) November 3, 2019
Svitolina looked to be heading for another hold at 30-15 while serving at 3-2, but then she made a couple of errors followed by her first double fault of the match on the breakpoint to keep Barty on the driving seat.
What a point!!!
If you've never seen @AshBarty's court coverage, just watch this point. 🤯
Watch live→ https://t.co/tPoe44C26q#WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/YFd2qY3zYs
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 3, 2019
The two players then traded breaks with Barty having a chance to serve for the match. Barty made no mistakes whatsoever as she served the match, winning the set 6-4 in 43 minutes.
Ashleigh Barty, the world number one, wins the WTA Finals in her debut.
She beats the defending champion Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-3 in the final & will collect the biggest ever prize money in tennis or in Women's Sports: 4.3M.
[getty] pic.twitter.com/VrFOY5Ev9E— José Morgado (@josemorgado) November 3, 2019
