Top-ranked Barty named WTA Player of the Year

Australian Ashleigh Barty, whose breakout 2019 campaign included a French Open crown and world number one ranking, was named WTA Player of Year. Barty, who is first Australian to top women's tennis rankings since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976, took award with 82 percent of media vote. It was a fitting end to a campaign that saw Barty claim her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros.

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Her four titles in 2019 included prestigious WTA Finals, where she cemented her place atop year-end rankings. Barty, who led tour with 57 match wins, h ascended to number one in September and finished year nearly 2,000 points ahe of second-ranked Karolina Pliskova. 23-year-old started season ranked 15th in world.

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Her coach, Craig Tyzzer, was named WTA Coach of Year. In voting for award Barty finished ahe of fellow Grand Slam champions Bianca Andreescu, Simona Halep and Naomi Osaka. Cana's 19-year-old US Open champion Andreescu was named Newcomer of Year. American Sofia Kenin was named Most Improved Player, Switzerland's Belinda Bencic was Comeback Player and top doubles team hors went to Timea Babos and Kristina Mlevic. 

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