The 22-year-old’s Florida fortnight saw her rack up three Top 10 wins en route to lifting the trophy, including a first triumph at the fifth attempt over Petra Kvitova and a straight-sets final defeat of Karolina Pliskova, as well as victories over rising teenager Dayana Yastremska, compatriot Samantha Stosur – the last Australian woman to be ranked inside the Top 10 – and erstwhile junior rival Anett Kontaveit.
Barty’s first Premier Mandatory championship is the fourth and biggest title of her career to date, and the latest in a series of milestones she has hit over the last five months following a first title above International level at the Zhuhai Elite Trophy to round off 2018, a second Premier final in Sydney and a maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open.
Karolina Pliskova
(+3, 7 to 4): The former World No.1 defeated Simona Halep to make the first Premier Mandatory final of her career in Miami, continuing a superb run of consistency that has seen her reach at least the quarterfinals of every tournament she has played in 2019 so far.
Kiki Bertens (+2, 8 to 6): A fourth-round run in Miami scores Bertens another new career-high ranking this week, and she is now just one spot off the highest ever ranking achieved by a Dutchwoman: Betty Stove’s World No.5 peak in 1977.
Anett Kontaveit (+5, 19 to 14): Kontaveit’s semifinal showing in Miami has led to both a personal and national milestone: her new career high of World No.14 is also the highest ranking ever held by an Estonian player.
Wang Qiang (+2, 18 to 16): The 27-year-old made the Miami quarterfinals for a career-best result outside Asia, and consequently hits a new career high. Wang is the fourth-best ranked Chinese player in history, behind only Li Na, Peng Shuai and Zheng Jie.
Bianca Andreescu (+1, 24 to 23): The Indian Wells champion extended her winning streak to eight, including a first-round comeback from match point down over Irina-Camelia Begu and a third-round reprise of the Indian Wells final over Angelique Kerber, before being felled by injury in the fourth round of Miami – and hits another career high as a result.
Hsieh Su-Wei (+3, 27 to 24): The Chinese Taipei No.1 did not score a win over a Top 10 player until she was 31 – but less than two years later Hsieh has now racked up six, including a second triumph over a reigning World No.1 when she defeated Naomi Osaka in the Miami third round en route to her first Premier Mandatory quarterfinal.
WTA rankings on April 1:
1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6,021 pts
2. Simona Halep (ROM) 5,782 (+1)
3. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 5,645 (-1)
4. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) 5,580 (+3)
5. Angelique Kerber (GER) 5,165 (-1)
6. Kiki Bertens (NED) 5,050 (+2)
7. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,020 (-2)
8. Sloane Stephens (USA) 4,287 (-2)
9. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 4,275 (+2)
10. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,595 (-1)
11. Serena Williams (USA) 3,461 (-1)
12. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3,270
13. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 3,117
14. Anett Kontaveit (EST) 2,845 (+5)
15. Julia Goerges (GER) 2,835
16. Wang Qiang (CHN) 2,812 (+2)
17. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,800 (-3)
18. Madison Keys (USA) 2,726 (-2)
19. Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 2,525 (-2)
20. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 2,460 (+1)
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