How the WBBL helped Ashleigh Barty beat Maria Sharapova

The 22-year-old, who had taken a break from tennis from 2014 to 2016, came back from a one-set deficit to see off the Russian 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday, January 20.

She said her time away from the sport, during which she featured in the WBBL, has made her a better tennis player.

"I needed to take that time away," said Barty, who represented Brisbane Heat in nine games in the 2015-16 season. "For me, having that 18 months off was vital. I feel like I came back a better person on and off the court, a better tennis player."

Barty's best performance for Heat came in her WBBL debut against Melbourne Stars, where she scored a quickfire 39 in 27 deliveries.

"There's never a lonesome moment on the [cricket] field if you're struggling. There's 10 other girls that can help you out and get you through the tough times," she had said after signing for Heat.

She made 68 runs in seven innings in the tournament before switching her focus back to tennis after that season.

Since then, she won the US Open doubles title with CoCo Vandeweghe last year and has now become the first Australian woman since Jelena Dokic to make the Australian Open quarterfinal.