Wuhan Open: Ashleigh Barty to face Caroline Garcia in final

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Unseeded Australian Barty began the year outside the world's top 300

Australia's Ashleigh Barty defeated French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko to reach Saturday's Wuhan Open final.

The 21-year-old beat her Latvian opponent 6-3 6-0 and in the final will face France's Caroline Garcia, who beat Maria Sakkari of Greece 6-3 6-2.

Ostapenko, 20, ranked 10 in the world, knocked out world number one Garbine Muguruza in the quarter-finals but appeared to labour with a wrist injury.

"I had no energy, I've been playing so many matches," Ostapenko.

"Yesterday we finished quite late so I didn't really have enough time to recover."

Barty is ranked 37th but began 2017 outside the world's top 300.

She also defeated Karolina Pliskova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Britain's number one Johanna Konta on her route to the final in China.

"It's been an unbelievable week," said the Australian.

"I've played some really good tennis at a really consistent level throughout the match and haven't had any real drops.

"I feel like I'm moving well on the court. I feel like I have full control of the ball, which in some conditions it's really tough to do."