Red-hot Barty storms into Sydney final

Australia's Ashleigh Barty claimed another top 10 scalp to power into the Sydney International final on Friday.

The 22-year-old Barty is on a hot run, stretching her unbeaten streak to seven matches dating back to her career's biggest title at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.

She is one of the form players heading into the Australian Open next week, but had to to dig deep to scramble past world No 9 and seventh seed Kiki Bertens (6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-5).

Her reward is a clash with either 2015 champion Petra Kvitova.

"It's amazing. It really has been a phenomenal week of tennis," said the 15th ranked Barty, who also made the final last year.

"I feel like I've played great all week and have had tough opponents every single round and I'm really excited to have another shot at the title."

Barty had already accounted for world No 1 Simona Halep and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko before beating 10th seeded Belgian Elise Mertens in the quarterfinals.

She came into the match with the advantage of having twice beaten Dutch star Bertens previously, including as recently as last August in Montreal.

World No 8 Kvitova beat Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1, 6-2 in the other semifinal.