Ashleigh Barty claims world No.1 ranking with win in Birmingham

Ashleigh Barty is the first Australian woman to seize the world No.1 tennis ranking in almost half a century after claiming her third title of a phenomenal 2019 season.

Barty cast friendship aside to down her German doubles partner Julia Goerges 6-3 7-5 in Sunday's final of the Birmingham Classic to not only secure the world No.1 ranking but also potentially top-seed status for Wimbledon starting on July 1.

Continuing her remarkable comeback to the sport after taking a 21-month hiatus and playing professional cricket, 23-year-old Barty will overtake Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka when the new rankings are released on Monday.

In doing so, the newly crowned French Open champion will join her mentor and Indigenous idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley as only the second Australian to top the WTA rankings since they were introduced in 1973.

"I'm a little bit speechless – it's been a whirlwind few weeks to be honest and to be able to follow in the footsteps of Evonne and even mentioned in the same sentence is incredible," said Barty.