Ash Barty stars in a rare return to the tennis court as the pregnant grand slam queen makes kids’ dreams come true for a great cause
- Barty is a First Nations Ambassador
- She describes the role as her passion
- Announced her pregnancy in January
She’s rarely been sighted on a tennis court since her shock retirement in March last year, but Aussie grand slam champion Ash Barty thrilled a group of young players when she strode to the baseline on Thursday.
The Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon winner made dreams come true for more than 140 Aboriginal kids when she launched the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival in Newcastle, NSW.
Despite being several months into the pregnancy she announced in January, the 26-year-old icon was hands-on with the youngsters – but remained steadfast about her decision to leave the game when the topic of a possible return came up.
‘I’ve said this time and time again, two cracks at tennis were more than enough,’ she said.
The Australian Open, Wimbledon and French Open champion thrilled First Nations youngsters when she returned to the court in Newcastle, NSW on Thursday
Despite being several months into the pregnancy she announced back in January and sporting an obvious baby bump, Barty was hands-on with the kids at the launch of the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival
‘I’m absolutely fulfilled, happy and content. I do have different things and different dreams and different ways that I’d love to contribute to community sport.
‘My athletic days are over.’
Barty announced the happy news of her pregnancy on Instagram in January by sharing a photo of her Border Collie sitting next to a pair of baby shoes.
‘2023 set to be the best year yet. We are so excited for our new adventure,’ she captioned the post, referring to her husband, Gary Kissick.
Her growing baby bump was visible under her hoodie at the District Park Tennis Centre as it hosted a lead-up event to the National Indigenous Carnival, which will be held in Darwin from August 10 to 13.
Barty is a proud Ngarigo woman and is a First Nations Ambassador with Tennis Australia.
‘It’s an opportunity for our kids to come together, try new things and be culturally involved,’ she said of the carnival.
The Aussie tennis icon said giving back to First Nations communities is her passion
Barty has had a busy start to 2023, appearing at the Australian Open and Melbourne Grand Prix in addition to her role as First Nations Ambassador with Tennis Australia
‘It’s incredible to see, this is what it’s all about, it’s about trying new things for the first time.
‘I’ve just been so grateful and appreciative of my journey across tennis and beyond now, but to still be connected and be able to contribute in ways like this, particularly with First Nations youth, is my passion. I love it.
‘I’ve had different role models throughout my whole life, starting with my mum and my sisters, and then professionally evolved into Evonne [Goolagong Cawley] and Cathy Freeman, they are both exceptional people and great role models in a sense of what they did in their field, on the court, on the track, but also their contribution after they retired, is something that I would really love to emulate.’
The proud Ngarigo woman said she would love to match the way her sporting heroes Cathy Freeman and Evonne Goolagong Cawley kept contributing to their sport and Indigenous Australia after they retired
Barty has been busy so far in 2023 thanks to her role as Chief of Inspiration at Optus, and she has made appearances at the Australian Open and the Australian Grand Prix.
She and Kissick have been together since 2016, when they met during a round on the links at Queensland’s Brooklands Golf Club.
Her skill with a club in hand led to speculation she could switch to the sport after her retirement from the court.
Barty played alongside fellow sports stars like Premier League hero Harry Kane, world champion boxer Saul Alvarez and Aussie cricket legend Ricky Ponting at the Golf Icons Series in New Jersey last July.
