Ash Barty: Parkwood Tennis Club Ringwood juniors hit it up at Kooyong with World No. 1

Ash Barty has smashed her way into the hearts of a group of youngsters from a Maroondah tennis club, specially chosen for once-in-a-lifetime clinic.

It’s not every day you get to hit it up with the World No. 1 tennis player.

But a group of juniors from a Maroondah tennis club had the experience of a lifetime on Thursday, as they held court with Ash Barty at Kooyong Tennis Club.

Almost a month after she won the Australian Open, Barty returned to Melbourne in her new role as an ambassador for health and wellness program AIA Vitality.

She also got back on the court to do what she does best, holding a clinic with junior players from Ringwood’s Parkwood Tennis Club.

The youngsters, specially chosen for the event, fine tuned their shots with Barty who also answered plenty of questions and happily signed their caps and racquets.

The tennis champ can also claim to be an honorary member of the club, after they thanked her with a card of messages and her own personalised Parkwood tennis shirt.

Parkwood player Mitchell, 10, said playing with Barty was “a dream come true”, while Elissa, 11, who has played tennis she was two years old, said the day was something she would never forget.

“It was very exciting … I asked her some questions and about her favourite shots she’s ever done,” Elissa said.

“She’s very inspirational and I want to be just like her and play tennis and be No. 1.”

Barty said she was glad to spend to spend time with the young players and to visit Kooyong again.

“This is what lights me up, being able to come out and hit with some young kids, it brings me back to the memories of me learning how to play the sport,” she said.