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On Wednesday Ash Barty took to social media to announce her retirement from tennis. As world No. 1, the 25-year-old’s news shocked the sporting world. “I am spent, physically, I don’t have anything more to give,” an emotional Barty said. “I have given everything I can to this beautiful sport...and I’m really happy with that. For me, that is my success.” Picture: Supplied.
1/35On Wednesday Ash Barty took to social media to announce her retirement from tennis. As world No. 1, the 25-year-old’s news shocked the sporting world. “I am spent, physically, I don’t have anything more to give,” an emotional Barty said. “I have given everything I can to this beautiful sport...and I’m really happy with that. For me, that is my success.” Picture: Supplied.
Barty was born in Ipswich, Queensland on 24 April 1996. She’s pictured here with parents Robert and Josie Barty. Picture: Nic Morley.
2/35Barty was born in Ipswich, Queensland on 24 April 1996. She’s pictured here with parents Robert and Josie Barty. Picture: Nic Morley.
Barty started playing tennis at the age of four, training with her longtime junior coach Jim Joyce at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre. Picture: Supplied.
3/35Barty started playing tennis at the age of four, training with her longtime junior coach Jim Joyce at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre. Picture: Supplied.
Here a 9-year-old Barty is playing in an under 11’s competition in Brisbane in a 2005. Picture: Supplied.
4/35Here a 9-year-old Barty is playing in an under 11’s competition in Brisbane in a 2005. Picture: Supplied.
In 2011, a 15-year-old Barty beat Russian player Irina Khromacheva to win the Wimbledon girls’ singles final. Picture: Leon Neal/AFP.
5/35In 2011, a 15-year-old Barty beat Russian player Irina Khromacheva to win the Wimbledon girls’ singles final. Picture: Leon Neal/AFP.
Returned from London a Wimbledon champion, 15-year-old Barty sits in front of her trophy collection at home in Springfield. Photo: David Nielsen / Queensland Times.
6/35Returned from London a Wimbledon champion, 15-year-old Barty sits in front of her trophy collection at home in Springfield. Photo: David Nielsen / Queensland Times.
Shortly after her Wimbledon win, Barty celebrates with tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Tennyson, QLD. Picture: Glenn Barnes.
7/35Shortly after her Wimbledon win, Barty celebrates with tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley at Tennyson, QLD. Picture: Glenn Barnes.
After teaming up with Casey Dellacqua, Barty began to make a splash as a doubles player. The pair are pictured here in the first round of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in December 2013. Picture: Franca Tigani / The Queensland Times.
8/35After teaming up with Casey Dellacqua, Barty began to make a splash as a doubles player. The pair are pictured here in the first round of the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in December 2013. Picture: Franca Tigani / The Queensland Times.
Barty and Casey Dellacqua played in all four Grand Slam tournaments, finishing as runner-up in three out of the four events for the 2013 season. As a team, Barty and Dellacqua became the first Australian duo to reach an Australian Open women’s doubles final since Evonne Goolagong and Helen Gourlay in 1977. Picture: AAP Image / Joe Castro.
9/35Barty and Casey Dellacqua played in all four Grand Slam tournaments, finishing as runner-up in three out of the four events for the 2013 season. As a team, Barty and Dellacqua became the first Australian duo to reach an Australian Open women’s doubles final since Evonne Goolagong and Helen Gourlay in 1977. Picture: AAP Image / Joe Castro.
In 2014, Barty announced she was taking a break from professional tennis, and moved into semi-professional cricket. Thankfully for the tennis world, Barty returned to the sport in 2016. Picture: AAP Image / Darren England.
10/35In 2014, Barty announced she was taking a break from professional tennis, and moved into semi-professional cricket. Thankfully for the tennis world, Barty returned to the sport in 2016. Picture: AAP Image / Darren England.
Barty is seen talking to Heat players before the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) cricket match between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades at Allan Border Field in Brisbane 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England.
11/35Barty is seen talking to Heat players before the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) cricket match between Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades at Allan Border Field in Brisbane 2019. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England.
Barty is a proud Ngaragu woman, and the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia. Here she plays tennis with Mutitjulu school students in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February 2022. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
12/35Barty is a proud Ngaragu woman, and the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia. Here she plays tennis with Mutitjulu school students in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February 2022. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
The Ngaragu people are indigenous to the southeast New South Wales region, with their traditional lands also extending around the present border with Victoria. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
13/35The Ngaragu people are indigenous to the southeast New South Wales region, with their traditional lands also extending around the present border with Victoria. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
Barty was awarded the National Dreamtime Award, celebrating Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Here she poses with Mutitjulu school students in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February 2022. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
14/35Barty was awarded the National Dreamtime Award, celebrating Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Here she poses with Mutitjulu school students in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in February 2022. Picture: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia.
Barty and CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States celebrate match point after defeating Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic 3–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–6(8–6) to win the women’s doubles tennis title at the 2018 US Open. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.
15/35Barty and CoCo Vandeweghe of the United States celebrate match point after defeating Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic 3–6, 7–6(7–2), 7–6(8–6) to win the women’s doubles tennis title at the 2018 US Open. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP.
Barty and her doubles partner Coco Vandeweghe pose with the championship trophy after winning the women’s doubles final against Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images.
16/35Barty and her doubles partner Coco Vandeweghe pose with the championship trophy after winning the women’s doubles final against Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France on Day Fourteen of the 2018 US Open. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images.
Her first Grand Slam win: Barty celebrates after winning her final match of the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, 2019. Picture: AP Photo/Christophe Ena.
17/35Her first Grand Slam win: Barty celebrates after winning her final match of the French Open tennis tournament in Paris, 2019. Picture: AP Photo/Christophe Ena.
Barty defeated Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in two sets 6-1, 6-3 to take home the French Open 2019 champtionship. Picture: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP.
18/35Barty defeated Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic in two sets 6-1, 6-3 to take home the French Open 2019 champtionship. Picture: Kenzo Tribouillard / AFP.
Barty was awarded Young Australian of the Year at the 60th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Australian of the Year Awards at the National Arboretum in Canberra, 2020. Picture: NADC/Salty Dingo.
19/35Barty was awarded Young Australian of the Year at the 60th Anniversary of the Announcement of the Australian of the Year Awards at the National Arboretum in Canberra, 2020. Picture: NADC/Salty Dingo.
Barty has long been an inspiration to young and old. Despite being world No. 1, she is known for being kind, humble, and down-to-earth. Picture: Alex Coppel.
20/35Barty has long been an inspiration to young and old. Despite being world No. 1, she is known for being kind, humble, and down-to-earth. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Another Grand Slam win: Barty took home the Wimbledon 2021 championship after defeating Karolina Pliskova of The Czech Republic in the final. Barty auctioned her uniform to raise funds for Gold Coast teacher Matt Fydler who was diagnosed with cancer. Picture: Supplied.
21/35Another Grand Slam win: Barty took home the Wimbledon 2021 championship after defeating Karolina Pliskova of The Czech Republic in the final. Barty auctioned her uniform to raise funds for Gold Coast teacher Matt Fydler who was diagnosed with cancer. Picture: Supplied.
Barty celebrates with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy after defeating Pliskova 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3. Barty became the first Australian women’s champion at Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
22/35Barty celebrates with the Venus Rosewater Dish trophy after defeating Pliskova 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3. Barty became the first Australian women’s champion at Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
Barty and John Peers of Team Australia play in their Mixed Doubles Semifinal match on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.
23/35Barty and John Peers of Team Australia play in their Mixed Doubles Semifinal match on day seven of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.
Barty took home a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, alongside doubles partner John Peers. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
24/35Barty took home a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, alongside doubles partner John Peers. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images.
Barty became engaged to long-term partner Garry Kissick in late 2021. In the style of the down-to-earth sports star, it was low-key. “We were at home on the couch with the puppies. It was very much just us. It was perfect for us. Everyone has their unique way of doing it,” Barty said. Picture: Supplied.
25/35Barty became engaged to long-term partner Garry Kissick in late 2021. In the style of the down-to-earth sports star, it was low-key. “We were at home on the couch with the puppies. It was very much just us. It was perfect for us. Everyone has their unique way of doing it,” Barty said. Picture: Supplied.
Barty graced the cover of Vogue Australia for the January 2022 edition. Picture: James Giles/Vogue.
26/35Barty graced the cover of Vogue Australia for the January 2022 edition. Picture: James Giles/Vogue.
Barty was in good form going into the 2022 Australian Open, but the pressure was high for the world No. 1 to deliver. Picture: Michael Klein.
27/35Barty was in good form going into the 2022 Australian Open, but the pressure was high for the world No. 1 to deliver. Picture: Michael Klein.
In a moment that will go down in Australian sporting legend, deliver she did! Barty defeated Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6(7–2) to become the 2022 Australian Open champion. She was the first home player to win an Australian Open singles title since Chris O’Neil in 1978. Picture: Michael Klein.
28/35In a moment that will go down in Australian sporting legend, deliver she did! Barty defeated Danielle Collins 6–3, 7–6(7–2) to become the 2022 Australian Open champion. She was the first home player to win an Australian Open singles title since Chris O’Neil in 1978. Picture: Michael Klein.
Barty’s long-time friend and doubles partner Casey Dellacqua was at the final to congratulate the champion. Picture: David Caird.
29/35Barty’s long-time friend and doubles partner Casey Dellacqua was at the final to congratulate the champion. Picture: David Caird.
In a touching surprise, Evonne Goolagong Cawley appeared to present Barty with the championship trophy. Picture: Michael Klein.
30/35In a touching surprise, Evonne Goolagong Cawley appeared to present Barty with the championship trophy. Picture: Michael Klein.
Barty joins Cathy Freeman and Evonne Goolagong Cawley as Australian indigenous sporting royalty after winning the 2022 Women’s Australian Open tennis tournament. Picture: Supplied.
31/35Barty joins Cathy Freeman and Evonne Goolagong Cawley as Australian indigenous sporting royalty after winning the 2022 Women’s Australian Open tennis tournament. Picture: Supplied.
Wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott celebrated Barty’s Australian Open win with this post on social media. Picture: @DylanAlcott/Twitter.
32/35Wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott celebrated Barty’s Australian Open win with this post on social media. Picture: @DylanAlcott/Twitter.
Barty poses for photos outside the Exhibition Building in Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein.
33/35Barty poses for photos outside the Exhibition Building in Carlton. Picture: Michael Klein.
While she may be retiring, Barty will continue to inspire tennis hopefuls for years to come - like junior tennis players Isla Smith-Lester, 5 and Amelia Kingsnorth, 6, pictured in front of the Ash Barty mural at Pure Tennis in Ferny Hills. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
34/35While she may be retiring, Barty will continue to inspire tennis hopefuls for years to come - like junior tennis players Isla Smith-Lester, 5 and Amelia Kingsnorth, 6, pictured in front of the Ash Barty mural at Pure Tennis in Ferny Hills. Picture: Zak Simmonds.
On behalf of Aussie sport, thank you, Ash! Picture: Scott Barbour.
35/35On behalf of Aussie sport, thank you, Ash! Picture: Scott Barbour.
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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/gallery-ash-barty-from-ipswich-to-the-world-stage/image-gallery/8560b6e0cc3a102db4d944b8b51d3aad