'Very grateful': Ash Barty on life after tennis

She says motherhood beats any Grand Slam

In this Body+Soul exclusive, tennis icon, Ash Barty, shares how her approach to training has shifted since retirement, the daily habits that boost her mental health and why being a mum to seven-month-old Hayden eclipses all her sporting triumphs.

Ash Barty has accumulated a great deal of impressive firsts in her lifetime. In 2019, she became the first Aussie in 46 years to win the French Open, a remarkable feat after only making a comeback to the sport five years prior. Then in 2021, she made history again, this time becoming the first Aussie since Evonne Goolagong Cawley took home the Venus Rosewater Dish in 1980 to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon. 

And in what would have to be the most memorable of the Barty firsts, a record-breaking 4.3 million of us cheered her on in 2022 as she became the first Aussie in 44 years to win an Australian Open title. But since retiring from the sport a couple of months after that epic achievement, Barty tells Body+Soul that those international accolades don’t even compare to her favourite post-tennis role of all: being a mum.

“Motherhood is different to anything I’ve ever experienced,” the 27-year-old tells us of life with seven-month-old Hayden, pictured with Barty in these never-before-seen images from their Bonds BabySearch campaign, and published here for the first time exclusively in Body+Soul.

Like what you see? Sign up to our bodyandsoul.com.au newsletter for more stories like this.

“I was very lucky to be able to watch my sisters raise their two kids, so I think I was always sensitive to how hard but also how rewarding it is. But it’s a completely different ball game when it’s your own child. It’s relentless – it’s 24/7 – but it’s so rewarding and, honestly, it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done. I think it’s incomparable to being an athlete.”

The best thing she’s ever done. Does this mean that for Barty – one of the country’s most prolific athletes in recent years – motherhood is even better than any of her trophies or historic AO win? Barty doesn’t even pause before she answers: “Without a doubt, not even a comparison. Absolutely.” She adds, “There were plenty of times throughout my career when I thought training was hard or I had some tough days, but it just goes to a whole new level when you become a mum.”

This isn’t to say that she’s got parenting all worked out since giving birth to Hayden last July, but she isn’t putting pressure on herself to do so, either. “I’ve tried to create little routines within our day to make them fun and enjoyable and to keep us both sane. We get out first thing in the morning and go for a walk with the dogs – it’s just a beautiful way to start our day. 

“Then we try to get some continuity with nap times and things like that. It doesn’t always work out, but we can try our best,” the Ipswich local says. “I feel like a routine’s always been good for me, so it’s something that I’ve continued to try and do – and hopefully it’s good for Hayden. We’re working it out together.”

Barty married Garry Kissick in July 2022. Image: Instagram/@ashbarty

Along with letting go of parenting perfection and making sure she regularly “connect[s] with the people I love – my mum, sisters and husband [Garry Kissick, who she married in July 2022]”, Barty says that taking time out for herself has been essential for her mental health as a new mother. Despite the guilt that comes along with it.

“Oh, absolutely I do [experience ‘mum guilt’]. I think that’s natural. Your life changes so much when you become a mum; your whole existence is focused around caring for your child and making sure they have absolutely everything they need. But it’s still important to take that little bit of time for yourself, because, I know for me, I can only continue to be a good person, a good wife and a good mother if I’m able to have some time for myself,” says Barty. 

“I do feel guilty, without a doubt, but I know that it’s imperative for me to be able to do that. Once Hayden goes to sleep, it’s half an hour for a bike ride or walk on the treadmill or run on the treadmill, whatever. It’s not a lot of time, but it makes such a big, positive impact on your mental health and on your physical health, as well.”

Barty admits those training sessions “can be few and far between”, as many new parents can relate to. It’s a world away from when she was competing on the international circuit and putting in hours on the court and in the gym.

“For a long time, I trained for my work and I trained for a purpose, and now that purpose has changed. I now train to feel good, to be happy, to be healthy and to ultimately train how I enjoy, whether it’s running, or it’s cycling, or it’s in the gym. I’m trying to be as well-rounded as possible.”

Many retired athletes find the training transition challenging. Has Barty felt that, too? “Yes and no. For a long time it was my job, but I always loved my job, so I was very lucky to do what I did. Now it’s just slightly shifted,” she says. “I’m still quite competitive with myself when I’m training – I can’t help but push that little bit more – but then sometimes it’s also nice just to do a relaxing mindfulness session where it’s not quite as intense.” 

Barty and her Son Hayden pose for Bonds BabySearch. Image: Nic Morley

The theme of this year’s Bonds BabySearch is capturing those first moments and milestones, so it’s fitting that the Aussie brand captured this one for Barty: her first shoot with baby Hayden. “He was a superstar the whole day,” she says. “Bonds is such an iconic brand and to be able to share that with Hayden and have some real fun with it was incredible,” says Barty of leading this year’s search. 

“Every parent looks forward to the baby search coming out each year and submitting their cute, funny, candid or messy photos. It’s pretty cool, so we were very grateful and really excited [to take part].” 

When it comes to those other memorable firsts from year one of parenting, Barty says that Hayden is already showing snippets of her and Kissick’s personalities. “Hayden’s pretty relaxed for the most part. He’s a content, happy little thing, but when he does decide that it’s game over and it’s time to hear his voice, he certainly can make himself heard,” she laughs.

“It’s funny when you try and marry things up and work out which characteristics are coming from Mum or Dad. It’s good fun. I’m sure there’s a bit of stubbornness in there... I have to put my hand up for that one.” Not that it’s a bad trait for Hayden to pick up from his mum. 

It’s that same determination that propelled Barty to the top of her sport and which she now funnels into her newly launched Ash Barty Foundation. She hopes her foundation will give young people the opportunity to succeed through sport with grants and initiatives, like her recent surprise visit to children in Toowoomba with tennis nets and racquets for 29 schools in the region.

Looking at the projects Barty has chosen to focus on in this next chapter of her career – the foundation, mentoring and her Little Ash children’s book series, released in 2022 – it becomes pretty clear that it’s all about investing her energy into the next generation. 

“Honestly, I love to see kids smile, and I love to see kids discover the possibilities and learn new things and have the opportunity to dream big. Now a lot of my work is centred around that, and that will always be my passion,” she says. “When I was a young girl, I was so fortunate to have so many people give me that opportunity, give me their advice and their love and their expertise. I flourished in that environment and I hope that we can provide an opportunity for other kids to do that, too.”

Barty says if there’s one lesson she’s learnt from those around her that she wants to pass down to the next generation of athletes, it’s this: be OK with having tough conversions. “Having full trust in Tyzz [Craig Tyzzer], my coach, and knowing that we could chat about anything. We’re having conversations with the common goal of trying to be successful and trying to be the best that we could. So I think my biggest learning is knowing that sometimes conversations are hard, but they’re worth having because you’re working towards a common goal and it’s coming from a good place.”

With everything she has experienced and achieved (let’s not forget her stint as a professional cricket player and her participation in a post-tennis celebrity golf tournament in the US), it’s easy to forget that Barty isn’t even 30. Is there anything else she wants to tick off the list before she hits that milestone age?

“Honestly, there’s no list as such. I’m just living every day as well as I can and doing things that I love, trying to get as many experiences as I can and feeling very grateful for being in the present,” she says. “I think that for me is the best way to live. It’s about enjoying the moment and not thinking too far ahead.” 

Got a cute baby or a hilarious toddler? Enter your favourite pic at bonds.com.au/babysearch. It opens Tuesday, February 6.

Originally published as 'Very grateful': Ash Barty on life after tennis