Ash Barty has capped off a remarkable month by claiming the Birmingham Classic title and with it the world number one spot.
Barty defeated German world number 19 Julia Goerges 6-3, 7-5.
In rising to world number one, leapfrogging Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, Barty becomes just the fifth Australian to summit the tennis world since rankings were introduced in 1973.
The 23-year-old will join Evonne Goolagong Cawley, John Newcombe, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt in the pantheon of Australians who have earned the number one spot.
Goolagong Cawley was the last Australian woman to hold the number one spot when she briefly surpassed American Chris Evert for two weeks in 1976. Hewitt's reign at the top ended in June 2003, the last time an Australian of any gender held that position.
Barty was made to work for her new-found status by doubles partner Goerges in an energy-sapping first set.
The 30-year-old saved three break points in the sixth game of the first set, but could not save a fourth as Barty leapt into an early lead.
Goerges hit back at the start of the second, breaking Barty's service game to fly into a 3-0 lead.
However, Barty struck back instantly, needing just one opportunity to win the break back.
There was plenty of mutual respect on court, with Goerges applauding a game-winning passing shot from Barty to win the eighth game of the set.
Barty broke in the penultimate game of the set before serving out the next game to love.
The new French Open champion has made a seamless transition to grass ahead of Wimbledon, where she will likely be the number one seed.
Ipswich-born Barty has now won 12 straight matches to improve her 2019 record to 36 wins and just six defeats.
In 2016, Barty was ranked 623 in the world after returning to the game from an 18-month stint playing Big Bash cricket with the Brisbane Heat, a period she credits with helping her grow as a person after needing "time to step away" and "to live a normal life."
