New world number one Ashleigh Barty has dismissed comparisons with Evonne Goolagong Cawley and insisted she is a long way short of being as good as the Aussie tennis legend.

Key points: Just five Australians have claimed the number one spot since rankings began in 1973

Just five Australians have claimed the number one spot since rankings began in 1973 Barty is the first number one Australian woman since 1976, and first Australian number one since 2003

Barty is the first number one Australian woman since 1976, and first Australian number one since 2003 She heads to Wimbledon having won her past 12 matches, and likely to be the number one seed

Barty became the first Australian woman to reach the top of the rankings since seven-times grand slam champion Goolagong Cawley reached the sport's pinnacle for two weeks in 1976.

The 23-year-old joined Goolagong Cawley, John Newcombe, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt in the pantheon of Australians who have earned the number one spot in tennis.

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Hewitt's reign at the top ended in June 2003, the last time an Australian of any gender held that position.

With just five defeats in almost eight months and a tour-topping 36 wins already this year, Barty's rise to the top is nothing but deserved.

On Sunday, the 23-year-old added the Birmingham Classic to the French Open title she won earlier this month by beating Germany's Julia Goerges 6-3, 7-5 for her 11th successive victory.

Her success at the Edgbaston Priory Club saw Barty usurp Japan's Naomi Osaka and she will now head to Wimbledon next week as the likely number one seed and with a huge chance of replicating Goolagong Cawley's last Centre Court success in 1980.

However, the humble Queenslander said she still has a long way to go to be classed in the same bracket as the Australian tennis great.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 17 seconds 17 s Ash Barty pays tribute to Evonne Goolagong Cawley after the win

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"I'm nowhere near her status," Barty said.

"To be mentioned in the same sentence is incredible.

"Evonne, she's an amazing human being and has set the tone for so many Australians and so many indigenous Australians around our country and around the world.

"She is an amazing person. And what she has done in her career was incredible and what she continues to do off the court for us as a sport is amazing.

"To have her as a friend is amazing and I'm sure that I will be able to chat to her in the next few days."

Top of the world - Aussie number ones* Evonne Goolagong Cawley — April 26 - May 9, 1976

Evonne Goolagong Cawley — April 26 - May 9, 1976 John Newcombe: June 3 - July 28, 1974

John Newcombe: June 3 - July 28, 1974 Patrick Rafter: July 26 - August 1, 1999

Patrick Rafter: July 26 - August 1, 1999 Lleyton Hewitt: Nov 19, 2001 - April 27, 2003

Lleyton Hewitt: Nov 19, 2001 - April 27, 2003 Ashleigh Barty: June 24, 2019 - * WTA women's number ones since 1975 * ATP men's number ones since 1973

Barty is enjoying a stunning run of form that has also saw her win the Miami Open in March with her last defeat coming on May 16 against Kristina Mladenovic at the Italian Open in Rome.

She maintains there has been nothing different in her approach but said hard work, perseverance and maintaining focus during points have been key to her rise.

"It's just been the most amazing journey for myself and my team and we've got to this point by doing all the small things right," Barty said.

"It's certainly just been the most amazing month of tennis for us and really an amazing three years.

"I have to trust myself and trust that I can execute on those big points, and not just when I'm set point down but also on those crucial 30-all, 15-30 points.

"There's no point that means anything more than the next one, they all have the same value, so it is about trying to execute as best as I can on that point and if it's at 15-love, or set-point down, it doesn't change for me.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 35 seconds 1 m 35 s Barty was challenged early in both sets but pulled off a convincing win

Barty has been partnering world number 19 Goerges in the doubles this week and the pair have been close friends since being introduced by Casey Dellacqua.

The German posed a real threat to Barty in the second set when she led 3-0 only for the Queenslander to demonstrate her iron resolve by hitting back to take out the match in just under 90 minutes.

"Jules has always made time for me ever since I started on tour and I think that relationship developed a bit through Casey," she said.

"She introduced me to a lot of the really good girls on tour and that relationship's grown, but Jules and her whole team have always made time for me.

"We have always enjoyed practising together and spending time with each other and, as I said, it's hard playing a friend but in a final I think you'd love to play a friend knowing you have both earnt that spot."

Doubles partners and friends Julia Goerges (L) and Ashleigh Barty (R) met in the final at Edgbaston. ( Reuters/Action Images: Carl Recine )

Barty was made to work for her new-found status by Goerges in an energy-sapping first set.

The 30-year-old saved three break points in the sixth game of the first set, but could not save a fourth as Barty leapt into an early lead.

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Goerges hit back at the start of the second, breaking Barty's service game to fly into a 3-0 lead.

However, Barty struck back instantly, needing just one opportunity to win the break back.

There was plenty of mutual respect on court, with Goerges applauding a game-winning passing shot from Barty to win the eighth game of the set.

Barty broke in the penultimate game of the set before serving out the next game to love.

The new French Open champion has made a seamless transition to grass ahead of Wimbledon, where she will likely be the number one seed.

Ipswich-born Barty has now won 12 straight matches to improve her 2019 record to 36 wins and just six defeats.

In 2016, Barty was ranked 623 in the world after returning to the game from an 18-month stint playing Big Bash cricket with the Brisbane Heat, a period she credits with helping her grow as a person after needing "time to step away" and "to live a normal life".

Ashleigh Barty has won three singles titles this year, including the French Open. ( Reuters: Carl Recine )

AAP/ABC