Ashleigh Barty is eyeing the biggest title of her career after a barnstorming comeback to reach the final of the WTA Elite Trophy.
Barty recovered from a set and a break down to claim her first win over defending champion Julia Goerges 4-6 6-3 6-2 in their semi-final in Zhuhai, China, on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Australian will next face home country star Wang Qiang, who thrashed Garbine Muguruza 6-2 6-0 in their semi.
The tournament features the leading players on the women’s tour who didn’t qualify for the eight-player WTA Finals in Singapore last week.
World No.19 Barty scored a straight-sets win in her only previous match against No. 22 Wang, which was in Strasbourg this year.
“It’s exciting to be in the last match of the year and give myself an opportunity at the title before heading home and putting my feet up and chilling with the puppies a little bit,” Barty said.
“I have only played Q (Wang) on a clay court. It’s kind of a fresh slate.
“Nothing really changes for me. I go out and try to play the same way.”
Barty is seeking her third career WTA Tour title, having previously triumphed in Kuala Lumpur in February 2017 and at Nottingham in June this year.
She was encouraged by her ability to work her way back into the match against world No.14 Goerges.
“It’s always nice to get better as a match goes on. I was looking after my service games as well. So it was just a matter of taking the opportunity if and when it came.
“It was a little bit of a serve-off in that last set.”