Ashleigh Barty will become the first Australian woman to be ranked world No. 1 in more than 40 years if she beats her doubles partner Julia Goerges in the final of the Birmingham Classic on Sunday.
The 23-year-old, fresh off her maiden Grand Slam triumph at the French Open, hasn't dropped a set all week and an 11th straight victory will see her displace Naomi Osaka in top spot. She would be the first Australian woman to hold the top spot since Evonne Goolagong in 1976.
Barty sent down 11 aces and fired 24 winners on Saturday to dispatch world No. 51 Barbora Strycova from the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.