Australian tennis champion Ash Barty recognised with Order of Australia

Australian tennis champion Ash Barty has capped off an incredible year by receiving one of the country’s highest honours.

Australian tennis champion Ash Barty has been recognised with the Order of Australia as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The former world No 1 was one of 992 inspirational Australians who were honoured in the historic list.

Barty was given the Officer of the Order of Australia for “distinguished service to tennis at the elite level, and to youth development programs”.

It caps off an incredible 12 months for Barty, who won Wimbledon 2021, an Olympic Bronze Medal for Mixed Doubles in Tokyo and the 2022 Australian Open, before announcing her surprise retirement in March.

Governor-General David Hurley congratulated all the recipients, saying they came from strong diverse backgrounds from across the country.

“Recipients share some common traits including selflessness, excellence and a commitment to service. They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique and each has served in different ways,” he said.

Australian tennis champion Ash Barty has been recognised with the Order of Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

“Collectively the recipients, whose achievements span community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts and more, represent the very best of Australia. This diversity is a strength and each has impacted their community and made it better.”

Beyond her achievements in tennis, Barty’s community contributions to RSPCA Queensland, the Queensland State Library, Red Cross, Salvation Army and as National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia were noted.

She also makes up the second highest percentage of female Order of Australia recipients ever, with nearly half (46 per cent) of this year’s list represented by women.

Speculation has ran rampant since Barty’s stunning retirement over what her next move will be, whether it be a quick return to tennis or challenging herself in another sport like golf, cricket or Australian rules football.

The Officer of the Order of Australia is awarded for “distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or humanity at large”.

Originally published as Australian tennis champion Ash Barty recognised with Order of Australia