Barty, Svitolina react after WTA Finals clash

World No 1 Australian Ashleigh Barty and No 8 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine opened up about the former's 6-4, 6-3 win in their final clash at the 2019 Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen here on Sunday.

Barty, who had lost her five previous meetings with the Ukrainian, said in the post-match press conference that a change of approach is what made the difference tonight.

"I think a slight shift in tactics and execution [was the key] first and foremost. In the other matches, particularly in Indian Wells, I had opportunities. Had set points in the first set, breaks up and things like that.

"Tonight, it felt like it was a lot more clear, a lot more concise from my end. I took my opportunities when I got them. Pretty happy to play that kind of level of a match in such a big match," Barty said.

The Australian noted that her forehand inside was another deciding factor, calling it a "shot comes naturally to me. I feel like when I can get forehands from that side of the court, when I'm hitting it well, I can go either way.

That was a side that I wanted to try to get into tonight. I think it was also important for me to move forward, then to try to bring Elina in a few times as well, which worked really well," she noted.

Her ability to keep clutch on key points was also a deciding factor in Barty's estimation.

"I feel like overall it was more about how I played the bigger points. I felt like I did that very well tonight," she said.

Reflecting on the season as a whole, Barty called the past year a roller-coaster ride.