Ash Barty honored to be named 2019 ITF World Champion

SYDNEY - Australian tennis player Ash Barty said she was honored after being named International Tennis Federation (ITF) 2019 World Champion alongside Rafael Nadal.

Barty, 23, finishes 2019 in the women's No 1 spot having claimed her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, winning the WTA Finals in Shenzhen and leading Australia to their first Fed Cup final since 1993.

"I'm honored to be named this year's ITF World Champion," Barty said.

"2019 has been an incredible year, winning the French Open and making the Fed Cup Final were highlights. I'm so proud of my team and I for what we have achieved and can't wait for the 2020 season to begin."

Alongside her, Nadal claimed the title of men's World Champion for the fourth time, finishing the year at No 1 with two more grand slam titles under his belt.

"I am very happy to be named ITF world champion and receive this award from the ITF," Nadal said.

"To finish as No.1 on the ATP rankings for a fifth time and win two more Grand Slam titles this year has been something that, looking a few years back, we would have never thought would happen."

The ITF selects it's World Champions based on their results throughout the year giving particular weight to the majors, Davis Cup and Fed Cup.

It also designates doubles, junior and wheelchair champions for the year.

Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic in the women's doubles and Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah for the men's doubles. Australian Dylan Alcott was named men's wheelchair World Champion for the second year running.

Gustavo Fernandez and Diede de Groot were also awarded in the wheelchair division, while France's Diane Parry and Argentinian Thiago Thirante were the junior world champions.