Where it all started for Australian Open tennis giant-killer Ashleigh Barty

Ashleigh Barty was just five when she showed up for her first tennis clinic in west Brisbane. Before you cheer her on tonight in the Australian Open quarter finals, find out how it all began.

Australian Open tennis giant-killer Ashleigh Barty was knee high to a grass hopper when she first appeared at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre at Richlands.

The former Woodcrest State College student was aged around five years and had answered a call out for prospective young players in the district interested in joining coaching clinics at the Archerfield Rd tennis facility.

Ash Barty with Pat Rafter.

Head coach Jim Joyce saw this little girl and thought to himself she was a bit young for the clinics.

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But he ushered her in the direction of one of his assistant coaches, Peter Psaltis, who took her through some basic drills.

“She went bang, bang,’’ Psaltis recalled, remembering Barty effortlessly and cleanly hitting back anything he challenged her with.

Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates after defeating Maria Sharapova. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Joyce was observing the one on one and realised her slight physique belied her ability, so he said to her: ”Okay then, I will see you next week (for training).’’

HOW QUITTING SAVED BARTY’S CAREER

And so started a rich and fulfilling relationship between Barty and Joyce at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre.

Barty, who today plays Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open, is in the richest vein of form of her career.

Ashleigh Barty. Pic: Michael Klein

On Sunday Barty deflected the death stares of Russian beauty Maria Sharapova en-route to beating the world No. 2 at the Australian Open,

Entering the Australian Open she beat the world No. 12 Elise Mertens, No. 9 Kiki Bertens and No. 1 Simona Halep at the Sydney International after gradually rising through the ranks across 2018.

To think it all started at Richlands when her parents Josie and Robert organised her to attend the local courts.

Ashleigh Barty back where it started at West Brisbane Tennis Centre. Photo By Patria Jannides

Psaltis said one key aspect which helped develop Barty was that she trained and played against adults.

“The more advanced she was getting, aged 9, 10 11 years, the one thing she was doing a lot of was hitting against older people,’’ he said.

Psaltis said Barty was training against one of Joyce’s assistant coaches, Danny Codd, who was 183cm and firing lightning bolt serves down to her.

“And she handled them pretty easier in the end,’’ Psaltis said.

Ashleigh Barty. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

“That way she was having no drama with the pace (of returns) that came back at her (in competition) because she was used to playing against older, more experienced players.’’

Indeed aged 10 Barty was playing top grade fixtures against adults.

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Psaltis, who has marvelled at Barty’s rise, said behind the scenes she benefited from great parents and a tremendous relationship with Jim Joyce.

“If it was not for him, I doubt she would be playing the game. She always goes back to him for advice,’’ Psaltis said.