Ashleigh Barty after Miami win: I deserve No. 1 ranking

Ashleigh Barty poses with the trophy after winning the Miami Open. Pic/Getty Images

Ashleigh Barty insisted she is a worthy world number one on Saturday after defeating Bianca Andreescu to retain her Miami Open crown.

The Australian star, 24, served notice of her determination to be a force this season with a 6-3, 4-0 victory as Andreescu retired with a foot injury in the second set. Barty - who had already been assured of holding on to her No.1 ranking before Saturday's final - has faced sniping from some players over her continued presence at top spot.

The Queenslander has benefited from a tweak into the way rankings are calculated which takes into account the disruption caused by last year's pandemic shutdown.

"I never have to prove anything to anyone," Barty said. "I know there has been a lot of talk about the ranking, but I didn't play at all last year and I didn't improve any of my points whatsoever. There were girls who had the chance to improve theirs, so I felt like I thoroughly deserve my spot at the top of the rankings."

Barty, the 2019 French Open champion, has held the No.1 ranking since September of that year, despite skipping the US and French Opens in 2020.

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