Ash Barty marries longtime partner Garry Kissick in private ceremony

Tennis superstar Ash Barty has married her longtime partner Garry Kissick in an intimate ceremony kept hidden from the world. See their gorgeous wedding picture here.

Ash Barty has married ­longtime partner Garry ­Kissick in a secret setting a world away from the glaring spotlight of the tennis world she once dominated.

Three treasured pillars of Barty’s world — family, close friends and a very private, private life — came together in perfect unison in an intimate ceremony at a mystery venue in Queensland earlier this month, just after Barty ­returned from watching the British Open golf tournament.

Such is the high ­esteem the couple are held in by their friends and family, guests respected the couple’s wish to keep the occasion private, with Barty looking stunning in a Suzanne ­Harward-designed dress.

Barty announced news of her nuptials on social media on Saturday night.

Guests at the wedding ­included Australian tennis great Pat Rafter, Barty’s ­former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, long-time Australian star Alicia Molik and Barty’s former junior coach Jim Joyce, credited with teaching Barty several of her crafty weapons, ­including her world-­renowned backhand slice.

Ash and Garry are known for their down-to-earth ­lifestyle and have never craved the limelight, with Barty famed for being one of sport’s most humble superstars.

Blissful newlyweds Ash Barty and Garry Kissick at their Queensland wedding in July. Picture: Nic Morley

Kissick proposed to Barty at home last year and the three-time Grand Slam ­winner said the proposal was all the more special for being low key, with their much-loved pet dogs lying nearby.

Kissick is a trainee ­professional at Brookwater Golf Club, where the couple met seven years ago, and Barty once told Vogue ­Australia he had provided crucial support for her career.

The pair have been together for seven years, and Kissick proposed last year. Picture: Instagram

“He’s extremely patient with me, and when we met he didn’t know a lot about ­tennis,” Barty said.

“He’s kind of been thrown in the very deep end in understanding what the tour is like and how much we’re apart … he’s the best person to have around in the sense of switching off from tennis and being able to bring the fun and laughter when we are training and not be so serious all the time.”

The duo have always ­preferred to keep their ­private life as private as ­possible.

Barty once joked to News Corp that when their ­engagement was released to the world and became big news the couple turned off the television for several days rather than have to watch stories about ­themselves.

Barty shocked the tennis world by announcing her retirement earlier this year. Picture: Getty Images

Barty shocked the tennis world this year by retiring at age 25 after winning the ­Australian Open.

Initially she claimed the door to professional tennis was “closed but not ­padlocked’’, but there have been no indications she is planning to, or will ever, return to the circuit.

Before the recent ­Wimbledon tournament, where she was the absent ­defending champion, she
told News Corp there were many things she missed about the circuit but she was still totally happy.

Barty and Kissick are relishing having more time to themselves since she left the tennis circuit. Picture: Instagram

Since retiring from tennis she has launched the Little Ash children’s books series and has played in an Icons golf series in New Jersey.

She also ticked off a ­“bucket list’’ item by visiting St Andrews for the British Open won by Queensland golfer Cameron Smith.

Golf Australia has said to Barty, a low single-figure handicapper, that should she ever want to play ­professionally they will ­assist her in the process, but at this stage she still ­considers it a hobby.

Barty said that life’s ­simple pleasures had given her much enjoyment since retiring, such as being able to take her dogs for a walk.

She and Kissick recently moved into a new house in the Springfield region Barty grew up in and have no plans to leave the area.