Ash Barty’s humble home tennis centre a green oasis in an increasingly industrial setting

It maybe a humble tennis centre, but it’s where Australia’s tennis No. 1 Ash Barty learned her craft and where a legion of young players dare to dream of tennis success.

It maybe a humble tennis centre, but it’s where Australia’s tennis No. 1 Ash Barty learned her craft and where a legion of young players dare to dream of tennis success.

This is the West Brisbane Tennis Centre started by Bill Joyce and continued on by his son Jim who still presides over the centre. Surrounded by industry, the five-court centre is a green oasis and Joyce is like a stubborn farm house owner who refused to sell his paradise despite encroaching businesses.

Ashleigh Barty's French Open trophy replica with some of the juniors at her spiritual home of the West Brisbane Tennis Centre last year.

“This place has been built-in. It is old but in it’s heyday this place was pretty nice,’’ Joyce said.

And it still is “nice’’ today.

The grounds were initially a poultry farm run by Bill Joyce – and chickens still room the grounds, while gardening produce is sold from a shed by the family.

Ali and Ashleigh Barty at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre as children. .

“Dad had poultry farms in Moggill and Aspley, around that area,’’ Jim said. “It goes right back. I worked on the farm when I first left school.

“Then he got out of all that and we were not interested (in farming).’’

Jim Joyce at the old pro shop on his property.

So Jim started the tennis centre which had just one court, an ant bed court, first constructed decades ago.

“It (the ant bed court) had no lighting and was for social Sundays,’’ Joyce said.

The West Brisbane Tennis Centre run by Jim Joyce.

Joyce’s brother John, one of the best juniors in Australia before being injured in a car accident, trained on it.

“So my dad build two more tennis courts about 1970. They were dirt courts.

Hayley Joyce at the entrance to the centre with creeping industry behind her.

“Then around 1980 I was getting into coaching so I built two more courts.

“We have stayed a five court centre.’’

Barty, who this week starts her Brisbane International campaign, is the centre’s most famous junior but to this day the centre is a source of enjoyment and ambition for countless locals.