ZHUHAI: Ashleigh Barty originally figured she'd have left China already, instead Australia's leading female tennis player is through to the final of the WTA Elite Trophy.
Barty feared her tournament was over after her round-robin stage debut in Zhuhai ended with defeat to Aryna Sabalenka – but a key result fell her way before she overwhelmed defending champion Julia Gorges in Saturday's first semi-final.
Momentum: Ashleigh Barty rode her luck to get to the semi-final but then easily dispatched Julia Gorges.Credit:AP
While the 22-year-old world No.19 had to rely on Caroline Garcia beating Sabalenka to emerge from Orchid Group with a positive games differential – defeating Gorges was solely down to her.
The German looked on course to extend her title defence after securing a late break to take the opening set.
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Barty was also broken early in the second but the momentum then shifted and the Australian eventually cruised to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Once she broke the world No.14 twice to send the contest into a decider – and then made the ideal start to the third set when breaking Gorges to love – there was no way back for the favourite.
Gorges had already flirted with elimination in Rose Group before she snuck home against Belgian Elise Mertens, but Barty proved a more ruthless opponent despite recording six double faults.
Although an occasionally wonky serve proved immaterial, she will want to remedy that aspect of her game before the final against either Garbine Muguruza or local favourite Wang Qiang.
Originally Madison Keys was designated to play the Spaniard but she withdrew due to knee injury.
Wang beat Keys in the final match of round robin play in the Azalea Group on Friday but not by a wide enough margin to prevent the American progressing – and then injury intervened.
AAP
