Australia’s top-ranked female Ashleigh Barty has fallen short of winning a first title on home soil, losing the Sydney International final to resurgent former world No.1 Angelique Kerber.

Barty found her range on Saturday after losing an error-ridden first set at Sydney Olympic Park, but the German two-time grand slam champion was the more composed in the 6-4 6-4 victory – her ninth-straight in 2018.

Barty’s appearance in the tournament decider is still set to lift the 21-year-old Queenslander’s world ranking to No.17.