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Ash Barty wins doubles title to secure incredible rankings feat

Ash Barty has topped off a great week after defending her doubles crown at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia Open to achieve an incredible rankings feat.

Barty and new partner Victoria Azarenka overcame eighth seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Demi Schuurs 4-6 6-0 (10-3) for the Aussie to claim her maiden WTA doubles title with the Belarusian.

“There were ebbs and flows a little bit, a few momentum changes in the match,” she said post-match.

“But I think that the way we started the second set, in particular, we were able to keep the foot down, keep the momentum going through the tie-breaker as well.”

 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Ashleigh Barty of Australia pose with the trophy after winning the Women's doubles final match during Day eight of the International BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico on May 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Ashleigh Barty of Australia pose with the trophy after winning the Women's doubles final match during Day eight of the International BNL d'Italia at Foro Italico on May 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The title will mean Barty will climb to number eight in the world doubles rankings and will also be ranked number eight in the world in singles after she reached the third round of the women’s singles in Rome.

The title caps of a great week for the Aussie who secured an important top-eight seeding for her singles tournament at Roland Garros.

This will mean Barty won’t have to face the world’s top players until the later rounds of the French Open.

The unseeded Barty and Azarenka faced tough opposition on their way to the final defeating number one seed’s in Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova in the semi-final and fifth seed’s Hsie Su-wei and Barbora Strycova in the second round.

Azarenka and Barty will have a week off before meeting up in Paris to go for a Grand Slam title at the French Open.