Ash Barty wins fifth Newcombe Medal following Australian Open victory

Nick Kyrgios had a breakout year in 2022 — but it wasn’t enough to knock off Ash Barty at Australia’s biggest tennis awards.

Ash Barty arrives at the Newcombe Medal. Picture: David Geraghty

Even in retirement tennis champion Ash Barty is dominating her sport, crowned the Newcombe Medal winner for a record fifth consecutive year at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne on Monday night.

Barty’s stunning victory in winning her home grand slam the Australian Open in Melbourne last January was undoubtedly the biggest highlight in a huge year for Aussie tennis stars which also include doubles grand slam victories and a Wimbledon final for Nick Kyrgios.

Barty was crowned the winner for the fifth straight year at the awards ceremony at Palladium at Crown for her undefeated 2022 season which included 11 straight singles wins to tournament titles in Adelaide and Melbourne plus a doubles triumph.

Five stars: Ash Barty shows off her fifth consecutive Newcombe Medal. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Her greatest triumph, however, was her Melbourne Park campaign, where Barty did not drop a set all tournament to become the first Australian women’s singles champion in 44 years and claim her third career grand slam singles title.

But the 26-year-old shocked the world just a few months later when she suddenly quit the sport, unable to find the motivation to keep performing at the highest level or return to Wimbledon to defend the crown she won in 2021.

“It’s been a big year in my life and celebrating. There is so much to be proud of. I fulfilled everything I could for this sport,’’ Barty said when accepting her award.

Nick Kyrgios made it all the way to the Wimbledon final. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“I am grateful and appreciative to my team. My coaching gurus that taught me my game to everyone behind the scenes.

“My Mum and dad and everyone have been the biggest support network for me. Looking back on this year, what I am most proud of is the people I was surrounded by.

“Without them I am nothing.

“Thank you to everyone that gave this five-year-old the chance to play her dream out on centre court.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley with the Spirit of Tennis award. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“I’m so grateful to everything that tennis has given me; it’s given me all of my dreams, plus more,” the Aussie favourite said.

But it was at Wimbledon where Barty’s claim for the Newcombe Medal faced arguably the biggest threat as Kyrgios finally delivered the form to match the hype.

Sam Stosur arrives at Crown Palladium. Picture: David Geraghty

Todd Woodbridge arrives at the Newcombe Medal. Picture: David Geraghty

The controversial men’s star could be considered somewhat unlucky not to be Newcombe Medal winner given his enormous breakthrough across the entire 2022 season.

He claimed an Australian Open doubles win with Thanasi Kokkinakis and from there his singles performances skyrocketed including an epic journey before losing the Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic and a win over world No.1 Daniil Medvedev at the US Open.

Had Kyrgios been able to convert either of those grand slam efforts into tournament wins, the world No.22 would justifiably have upset the Barty honour roll.

In all, there were seven nominees for the Newcombe Medal, including Alex de Minaur, Matt Ebden, Storm Hunter, Max Purcell and Ajla Tomljanovic.

In a symbolic moment, Barty was able to reverse one of the most treasured moments of her career by presenting the Spirit of Tennis award to her idol Evonne Goolagong Cawley on Monday night.

Few could ever forget Barty’s shock when Goolagong Cawley wandered onto Rod Laver Arena after her grand slam win to present the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. The roles were reversed when the Indigenous icon’s work with her own foundation was recognised by Tennis Australia and Barty was on stage to pass on the award.

Originally published as Ash Barty wins fifth Newcombe Medal following Australian Open victory