The 22-year-old Queenslander was nominated along with rising star Alex de Minaur, Roger Federer-slayer John Millman and six-time wheelchair grand slam champion Dylan Alcott for the highest individual award in Australian tennis.

As the nation's only remaining top-20 player after Nick Kyrgios and Daria Gavrilova's slide, Barty reached career-high rankings in singles (15) and doubles (five) with two individual titles and four crowns partnering American CoCo Vandeweghe.

"The goal for me this year was to build on 2017 results and consolidate my ranking," she said.

"I am proud of what my team and I achieved, the US Open doubles title with CoCo Vandeweghe and finishing the year with the WTA Elite Trophy win were definite highlights."

Barty's biggest obstacle to claiming a second-straight triumph at the awards night in Melbourne on November 26 will likely come from young gun de Minaur.

The 19-year-old Sydney-born star has enjoyed a breakout season, pushing his ranking from outside the top 200 to world No.31 to be named the ATP Tour's newcomer of the year.

De Minaur reflected on how far he'd come in a mere 12 months after capping his whirlwind 2018 campaign with a runner-up finish at the elite 21-and-under Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

"Last year I was fortunate enough to be named junior athlete of the year and to move up the ranks this year and be nominated for the Newcombe Medal is really exciting for me," he said.

In eight years of the annual award, it has never been handed out to joint winners.

Of the other two challengers, Millman showed he was more than an Aussie battler with his run to the US Open quarter-finals while Alcott won the wheelchair final at Flushing Meadows.

NEWCOMBE MEDAL HONOUR ROLL

2010: Samantha Stosur

2011: Samantha Stosur

2012: Samantha Stosur

2013: Lleyton Hewitt

2014: Nick Kyrgios

2015: Sam Groth

2016: Dylan Alcott

2017: Ashleigh Barty

Australian Associated Press