(CNN)An already stellar season for Ashleigh Barty got even better when the Australian advanced to the semifinals at the women’s year-end tennis championships by downing familiar foe Petra Kvitova in straight sets. Barty started the year 15th but rocketed up the rankings after making a maiden grand slam quarterfinal on home soil, winning the Miami Open and earning a first major at the French Open. Following a title on her favorite surface of grass in Birmingham, England in June, Barty became the first Australian woman to top the rankings since her mentor, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, in 1976. Barty later relinquished the No. 1 spot but got it back in September and even before Thursday’s action in Shenzhen, China knew she would end the season there. JUST WATCHED Naomi Osaka reflects on a rollercoaster 2019 Replay More Videos … MUST WATCH Naomi Osaka reflects on a rollercoaster 2019 02:54 That all looked unlikely when she stepped away from the game in 2014 and turned to cricket, prior to returning in 2016. Read More Already awarded the prestigious “Don” Award in Australia earlier in October — named after cricket great Don Bradman and given to the country’s top sportsperson — Barty figures,…