Ash Barty opens up on the joys of motherhood for the first time as she reveals how baby Hayden has changed her life and explains why raising him is the hardest thing she’s ever done
- Barty says motherhood is best thing she’s done
- She says baby Hayden is ‘amazing’
- Barty and husband are enjoying life at home
Retired tennis star Ash Barty has opened up about being a mum, saying raising newborn son Hayden is both the best and yet hardest thing she has ever done.
The 27-year-old sensationally quit the sport at the peak of her powers following her watershed Australian Open win in January 2022.
In July, Barty took to social media to announce the birth of her first child with husband Garry Kissick.
‘Welcome to the world, Hayden!,’ their post read, accompanied by a picture of the new arrival wrapped in a blanket.
Now for the first time since Hayden’s arrival, the Australian great has lifted the lid on how Hayden has changed her life in a revealing interview.
Ash Barty (pictured with son Hayden and her pet dogs) says motherhood is the best and hardest thing she’s ever done
Barty welcomed the birth of her first child with longtime partner Garry Kissick in July
‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever done, and hardest thing I’ve ever done,’ Barty told News Corp.
‘Hayden is amazing, I feel so very lucky. Garry and I are really just enjoying what is a pretty quiet time together at home as a little family.’
Barty said the bond she has formed with Hayden is ‘incredible’.
‘Having seen my sisters become mums, and spending so much time with their kids, I had some idea of how it would feel, but it’s certainly at a different level when it’s your own child, and they are completely dependent on you! It’s pretty incredible,’ Barty said.
The tennis great has always been an early riser, and Barty confirms that nothing has changed since the arrival of her son.
‘My hands are a little bit more full now but my morning walk is still my favourite part of the day,’ she said.
‘The pack of hounds and Hayden and I all out together and getting on with the day!’
Barty went on to explain that she was just four years old when she picked up a tennis racket for the first time – and that the sport quickly became her ‘first love’.
Barty says that she and husband Garry are enjoying quiet time together at home with Hayden
The former World No.1 says she came very close to quitting after winning Wimbledon in 2021
‘It was my first love, Hame; it consumed me every single day – all I wanted to do was hit tennis balls.
‘Dad converted our garage at home. He got some masking tape and put it to the exact height of a net. I would hit in that garage for hours and hours and hours, before school, after school.
‘When I wasn’t having a lesson because it was raining, I was in the garage. It was just something I became fascinated and curious about, trying to learn how to master my craft, learning how to compete against the wall and against myself.’
Barty also revealed that she was ‘very close’ to retiring after winning Wimbledon in 2021.
‘Because it was the pipe dream, and I had finally done it,’ Barty admitted.
‘As a young kid I thought, “Wouldn’t it be amazing? Very last match of your career, Saturday afternoon centre court, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and I just leave the game on the ultimate high”.
‘There, there I was, and I was thinking, “Is this the best way to finish? This is what I dreamt of”.’
