Ash Barty’s dad opens up on the lead-up to superstar’s Australian Open victory and her return to tennis

Ash Barty could have been lost to tennis for good in 2015. Her family has opened up on the incredible subplot to her success story.

Ash Barty with her parents Robert and Josie. Picture: Nic Morley

Don’t worry about the backhand slice ... mum’s chicken curry might just have been the secret sauce behind Ash Barty’s third Grand Slam.

Seven years after he thought his daughter would never play professional tennis again, Rob Barty was stunned by her calmness before she stormed to her third Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open.

And he puts part of that down to his wife Josie who spent two weeks with Ash in Melbourne.

“I was really surprised when I turned up yesterday morning how calm and relaxed Ash was, mucking around with the family having fun,’’ Rob told News Corp.

Ash Barty lifts the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty

“There was no game day nerves. I said to Josie just having mum around with home cooked meals (including Ash’s favourite chicken curry) made a lot of difference.

“It’s just like home. She is so relaxed. No wonder she was playing so well.’’

The incredible subplot to the Barty success story is that when she had a break from tennis due to tour burnout in 2015 those closest to her were convinced she would not return.

“She was completely burnt out at being away from the family. When we saw how happy she was back here relaxing we thought she is never going back. But things have strange ways of working out.

Ash Barty’s family watch the world No.1’s Wimbledon victory from home. Picture: Supplied

“(Barty’s first coach) Jim Joyce has often said if she did not take that break she would have never played again. If she played for another six months she would have hated the game.

“It took 18 months and Casey Dellacqua annoying her to get her back on the tennis court and she was only back for 10 minutes before she realised how much she loved the game.’’

Rob missed Ash’s first two Grand Slam victories at the French Open and Wimbledon and was preparing to miss this one due to being neck deep in sorting out Ash’s personal business deals which have skyrocketed since last year’s Wimbledon victory.

But his daughter was having none of that.

Ash Barty with her parents Robert and Josie. Picture: Nic Morley

“When she won the semi-final I booked flights for her two sisters but I thought I had too much on for her to go down.

“She said “Dad, cancel whatever you have got on to get down here for the final’ so I did. She wanted us in the stand for this one.

“I run her personal stuff. It is crazy, crazy busy. My nerves were pretty good. Josie and Ash’s sisters, it was the most nervous they had ever been.

“Who would have thought from the midpoint of 2019 she would have three Grand Slams under her belt?’’