Australian Barty named WTA Player of the Year

Australia's Ashleigh Barty poses with the trophy at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris.[Courtesy]

Australia’s Ash Barty has been named WTA Player of the Year after capturing her maiden Grand Slam singles title and reaching the top of the world rankings.

The 23-year-old, who quit tennis to play cricket in 2014 before returning to the game in 2016, became the first Australian to win the French Open since Margaret Court in 1973 when she beat Czech teenager Marketa Vondrousova in June.