Ash Barty has found the right balance between tennis and life

ASH Barty walked away from tennis when she lost her passion for the sport but now in the midst of a the career reboot, tennis has become part of Barty’s normality in life.

NORMALITY in tennis, as in life, is an abstract concept.

The tour is crammed with eccentrics, perfectionists, oddballs and misfits united in common ambition - international fame and fortune.

Normality for Ashleigh Barty equates to family, four dogs and Richmond Football Club.

Normality to the Queenslander, now in the midst of a the career reboot she dubs “Ashleigh Barty 2.0”, means regular visits to a South Yarra cafe to catch up with friends in her adopted city.

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Normality to the outrageously gifted athlete means traipsing around the world. Touring, in Barty’s mind, is an unavoidable reality.

Tennis, once a lost passion, is again an agenda item, if not all-consuming priority for Barty.

But, far from the depths of 2014 when home-sickness and other issues, prompted Barty to walk out of the sport, tennis is now part of Barty’s normality.

It will be her sole focus when she faces Naomi Osaki in the Australian Open’s third round, a continuation of a remarkable journey.

“For me, I feel like a completely different person than what I was before I stopped playing,” Barty said.

“I feel comfortable on and off the court, happy in my own skin, just really comfortable with the way I’m playing my tennis.”

Ashleigh Barty has made a stunning return to tennis after having some time away from the sport. Picture: Mark Stewart

Time was when travel and time away from her parents Robert and Josie and her older sisters Sara and Ali was unbearable.

Worse, Barty missed the family dogs just as much. Worrying symptoms of coping failure set in.

In quick succession, Barty opted out of tennis, went fishing, discovered cricket - predictably excelling at it - before rediscovering an itch that needed to be scratched.

Tennis and its myriad strands of normality would become Barty’s salve once more. But, this time, with deeper meaning.

After a 16-month hiatus, Barty returned, her house - and life - in order.

Less than two years after resuming, she had claimed a career-high ranking of No 17, multiple wins over top-10 opponents, singles and doubles titles and the Newcombe Medal as Australia’s premier player.

The resurgence reeks of perspective and life balance.

“They definitely coincide. At the end of the day, we’re very lucky to play tennis as a profession, to have it as my career,” she said.

“Off the court with my family, sort of my loved ones, sort of having that normal life is most important to me.

“Yeah, I think last year was just everything was unexpected.

“It was sort of new ground for me. Everything was brand-new.

“Even though this situation is also brand-new, I feel like I put pressure on myself to perform well and to play well and to do well.

“That’s what I expect of myself. It’s not always going to happen, but I can certainly sort of put myself in the position where I can get the best out of myself.”

It was not always that way.

Robert Barty said watching his daughter suffer with expectation, travel and isolation as a teenager cut to the core.

During her tennis sabbatical, Barty had the satisfaction of watching his prodigy “be a kid again.”

Ash Barty gives a fist pump after defeating Camila Giorgi on Thursday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin was among the Barty fan club at Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Michael Klein

Detailing his own challenges with depression, Barty was alarmed at what he saw in Ash.

In the end, he was relieved to have her back home, suspecting her tennis career was over.

Evonne Goolagong told Barty to “wet a line”, to use fishing as down time to ponder the future which, for a time, included a promising stint with Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Nobody, except perhaps Barty and her wonderfully understated coach Craig Tyzzer, envisaged what “Ashleigh Barty 2.0” would ultimately become.

Contentment is at the core of what Barty does. And achieves.

“My coach (Tyzzer) and I can work together to sort of keep that happiness and drive on the court,” Barty said.

“But off the court, it’s simple for me. I’m a big family girl and love spending time with my family and I have four dogs at home.”

Barty in action for the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL during her time away from tennis. Picture: Colleen Petch

She also has a manic appreciation for the Tigers, regularly parading an encyclopaedic knowledge of the AFL reigning premier’s list and performance.

A more than handy golfer — she’s close to a single-figure mark — Barty’s exceptional hand-eye coordination set her apart at an early age.

A brick wall at the family’s Springfield home in Ipswich was the proofing ground for the youngster’s early skill tests.

“I used to hit the ball against that wall every day after school, for hours on end,” she said. “It used to do Mum and Dad’s heads in.”

Initially coached by Jim Joyce, the youngster surprised the veteran mentor with her unworldly poise and timing.

Almost inevitably, Barty snared Wimbledon’s junior singles but immediately felt stifled by the attendant media attention.

Barty defeated Camila Giorgi in the second round of the Australian Open Picture: Michael Klein

It was a telling sign. Three years later, Barty fled the sport.

She needed a break and took it.

A perfectionist, she returned — with more than a little help from doubles partner and close friend Casey Dellacqua — and, from the smallest beginnings, it has morphed into something major.

In 2017, she won her maiden singles crown and proceeded to wins over grand slam champions Venus Williams, Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber and Jelena Ostapenko.

Often seen on tour with either her mother or partner Garry Kissick, a golfer, Barty has found peace. And normality.

PRECISION VERSUS POWER

ASHLEIGH BARTY (AUS)

Ranking: 17

Age: 21

Height: 164cm

Weight: 62kg

Singles titles: 1

Prizemoney: $2,993,395

Plays: Right-handed

NAOMI OSAKA (JPN)

Ranking: 72

Age: 20

Height: 180cm

Weight: 69kg

Singles titles: 0

Prizemoney: $1,234,908

Plays: Right-handed

head-to-head barty leads 1-0