Wise words fire Wang's stellar run

'Hell of a year'

After Sunday's loss, French Open champion Barty reflected on a "hell of a year" in which she captured a first Grand Slam singles title.

The Queensland native had never progressed beyond the last 16 at a major until this year, but she broke new ground at January's Australian Open by reaching the quarterfinals and then captured a maiden Slam title in Paris.

That was followed by a run to the last 16 at Wimbledon as the new world No 1, becoming the first Australian woman to hold the top ranking since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976.

"It's a tough day at the office today. But it has been a year where we've hit our goals," Barty said in the wake of the loss to Wang.

"We've had a great season in Grand Slams for singles. We've made the second week every single one, which has been really special. Now we'll sit back, reflect and look forward to a big couple months to finish off the year."

Barty routed Czech youngster Marketa Vondrousova in the French Open final in June but insisted there was no reason to fret over her earlier exits at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.

"I don't think the second week of a Slam is a missed opportunity," she said.

"It's a hell of an effort for all slams to get to the second week. Yes, I would have loved to have done better.

"It wasn't to be - but certainly not something I'm stressed about.

"Look, it's frustrating now. But give me an hour and I'll be right. It's an opportunity, it's a new day tomorrow.

"Just because we've had a tough hour and a half on the court, it doesn't reflect on the year that I've had or the couple of weeks I've had here in New York."

Barty, who lifted the US Open women's doubles title with Coco Vandeweghe in 2018, is still hopeful of retaining that crown alongside Victoria Azarenka.

Barty and Azarenka, twice runner-up to Serena Williams in the singles in New York, are through to the third round and will face US teen duo Coco Gauff and Caty McNally for a place in the quarterfinals.

"Obviously I would have loved to have kept going here in singles, but we've got an opportunity to retain our championship in doubles," Barty said.

"Knowing what it was like last year to be able to lift the trophy in doubles was really cool.

"To be able to have another opportunity to do that now, still being able to play in doubles, is a bonus."

Agence France-Presse