Zhuhai, Guangdong, China, 1 November 2018 | AAP

Ash Barty on Thursday bounced back from a straights-sets defeat to Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, but victory over Caroline Garcia may not be enough to earn a semifinal berth at the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.

The Australian wrapped up her round robin play in Orchid Group on Thursday with a efficient 6-3 6-4 victory over the Frenchwoman, based on a flawless serve and the conversion of two break points.

However, world No.12 Sabalenka still holds the advantage in the three-player group as she will be favoured to beat Garcia in the final match-up in Zhuhai on Friday.

In contrast to the slow start against Sabalenka, Barty exerted control early by breaking Garcia’s second service game before closing out the opening set.

The 22-year-old Queenslander, who is playing her first singles tournament in a month since suffering a shoulder injury, also broke Garcia early in the second to avenge a loss to the current world No.18 in their only previous meeting.

https://twitter.com/WTA/status/1057917095529263104

Garcia and 19th-ranked Barty first met in China last year where the Frenchwoman won the final in Wuhan 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-2.

Barty had no expectations of making the semifinals after wrapping up her match in 75 minutes.

“I’m certainly very happy to finish off my season with a win,” she said.

“It’s nice to come away with a win and now I get to sit here tomorrow and enjoy the next match.”

The Elite Trophy features the world’s top 12 singles players who did not qualify for last week’s WTA Finals.