Final:
Ashleigh Barty (1) (Australia) v Aryna Sabalenka (5) (Belarus)
The previous six contests between the pair were split 3-3, all on hard courts and Barty successful most recently in the Miami quarter finals last month.
Barty had won two tournaments already this year before Stuttgart, while Sabalenka was triumphant in Abu Dhabi.
Against both Pliskova and Svitolina, the top seed was on the edge of defeat but somehow managed to find a way through.
Sabalenka played the most ruthless tennis of the tournament to defeat Simona Halep in her semi final.
In the final, Sabalenka opened brightly before a double fault and two Barty winners provided a break point. The fifth seed survived with strong serving.
A double fault also interrupted Barty’s initial service game, but not enough to prevent a 1-1 score.
Two double faults in the fifth game from Sabalenka led to two break points, and one was saved with a forehand winner. An ace saved the second. Serve was eventually held. 3-2 Sabalenka.
From 30-0, Barty lost four of the next five points to face her first break point, but a Sabalenka error saved it. A Belarusian forehand sizzler brought another break chance but it disappeared with a Barty forehand winner. Barty saved a third break point en route to levelling at 3-3.
A double fault and errors from Barty gave Sabalenka two break points in the eighth game and when Barty netted a forehand, Sabalenka led 5-3.
Sabalenka double faulted on her first set point but a Barty error on the second set point put the fifth seed ahead 6-3.
Sabalenka saved two break points in the second game of set two, but on the third chance a wild Sabalenka forehand cost her. 2-0 Barty.
The top seed consolidated the break, a forehand winner sealing it.
Down 0-40 in the fourth game, Sabalenka saved two break points. However a stunning forehand cross court winner from Barty produced a double break and a 4-0 advantage. A love game enhanced Barty’s hold on the set which was just one game away from the Australian’s grasp.
Serving to stay in the set, Sabalenka netted a forehand then a backhand from 30-30 and hand the set to Barty 6-0.
A Barty forehand winner and errors from the Belarusian racquet saw the top seed break in game two of the decider. A second love game on serve gave Barty a 3-0 lead.
Against the tide, Sabalenka broke back in the fifth game and trailed 2-3 with games on serve.
Barty forced an error in the next game which brought the score to 15-40, and a double fault presented the break of serve. 4-2 Barty.
In a lengthy seventh game, Barty saved three break points, and converted on her fourth game point to be one game away from the title.
Sabalenka was taken to deuce but held on, forcing Barty to have to serve out the match.
On her second match point, Barty received a netted return from Sabalenka and the final was over 3-6 6-0 6-3.
Ashleigh Barty won her eleventh WTA title from sixteen finals - three this year, and this was her second ever on clay - the first being the 2019 Roland Garros title.
