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Barty to play Goerges for Birmingham title and No. 1 spot

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) - French Open champion Ashleigh Barty will play Julia Goerges for the Birmingham Classic title on Sunday, and clinch the world No. 1 spot if she wins.

Barty extended her winning streak to 11 games and secured her third final of the season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over two-time runner-up Barbora Strycova on Saturday.

Goerges defeated Croatia's Petra Martic 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.

Second-ranked Barty needs to win the grass-court tournament to overtake Naomi Osaka in the rankings on Monday. Osaka lost to Yulia Putintseva in the second round on Thursday and must wait to see if she'll still be top heading into Wimbledon, which starts July 1.

Barty, who can become the first Australian female No. 1 in 43 years, says: "If I win, it's a bonus. There are all things that come with it, but those things are certainly not what I'm worried about."

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Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova returns a shot during her semi-final tennis match against Australia's Ashleigh Barty during their semi-finals Birmingham Classic tennis match at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP) The Associated Press
Australia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates a point against Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova during their semi-finals Birmingham Classic tennis match at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP) The Associated Press
Czech Republic's Barbora Strycova reacts to losing a point to Australia's Ashleigh Barty during their semi-finals Birmingham Classic tennis match at Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, England, Saturday, June 22, 2019. (Tim Goode/PA via AP) The Associated Press
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