Ashleigh Barty Archives - Springfield Lakes

Wimbledon Welcomes Back Springfield Tennis Legend Ash Barty

Former world No. 1 and Springfield-raised Ash Barty is set to make a highly anticipated return to Wimbledon this July, nearly two years after her shock retirement from professional tennis. The 28-year-old Australian tennis legend will participate in the invitational doubles event, marking her first appearance on the hallowed grass courts since her triumphant singles victory in 2021.

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Invitational Doubles comeback

Wimbledon officials recently announced Barty’s participation in the legends invitational doubles event, scheduled to begin on July 9.

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Barty will team up with her former doubles partner and close friend, Casey Dellacqua. The pair, affectionately known as “ABCD” (Ash Barty and Casey Dellacqua), have a history of success, including reaching three grand slam finals together.

The legends tournament will feature two groups of eight pairs competing in a round-robin format. The top pairs from each group will advance to the final, vying for a share of the ~$64,800 first-place prize. All participating pairs are guaranteed a minimum of ~$45,800 between them.

Ash Barty, legend of tennis

Ash Barty’s 2021 Wimbledon victory ended a 41-year drought for Australian women at the tournament, following in the footsteps of her mentor and idol, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, who won in 1980.

The Woodcrest State College alum also claimed grand slam titles at the 2019 French Open and the 2022 Australian Open before her surprise retirement announcement in March 2022.

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Since stepping away from professional tennis, Barty has embraced family life. She married her partner Garry Kissick and welcomed their son, Hayden. Despite occasional calls for her return to the professional circuit, Barty has consistently expressed contentment with her current priorities. “I absolutely love being a mum. There’s nothing else that I prefer to do,” she said.

Dual role at Wimbledon

In addition to her participation in the invitationals, Barty will also serve as a commentator during the Wimbledon tournament.

This dual role allows her to remain connected to the sport while maintaining her retirement from professional play.

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The Wimbledon tournament, including the legends invitational event, is set to begin on Monday, July 1, offering fans a chance to see their hometown hero back in action on one of tennis’s most prestigious stages.

Published 22-June-2024

Ash Barty to Build ‘Forever’ Home at Brookwater Residential

Photo Credit: Ashbarty / Instagram

Newly retired Ash Barty is planning to build her dream home and spend her retirement years in Brookwater Residential.

In a Brookwater Residential video, Ash talks about why she chose Brookwater and what she loves about the community. She purchased the property at Brookwater Residential – which also features the Greg Norman-designed Brookwater Golf Course – last year for $882,000 and is now building her new home.

The tennis icon spent her childhood in Greater Springfield. Living with her mom and dad there her whole life and with her sister also a stone’s throw away, she said that it makes sense to her to think that “this is the destination that I want to live forever.”

Artist impression of what the interior of Ash Barty’s Brookwater Residential home would look like — Artist impression of the *Brookwater Residential home* Ashleigh Barty is building | Photo Credit: REA Group – Brookwater Residential / realestate.com.au

And as to why she chose to live in the community at Brookwater, she said that she loves how “low-key” the lifestyle is at Brookwater.

“It’s quiet, it’s calm, it really suits our lifestyle. Brookwater has so much to offer in all different facets of lifestyle,” she explained.

“They’ve got a golf course, plenty of walking tracks, cafes, they’ve got all of these things that ticks all the boxes for me and that’s where I see myself forever.”

However, the three-time grand slam winner made sure that the design elements of her new home would have plenty of space outside and since she spends a lot of time in the kitchen, she also wants it to be just how she imagined it.

Describing the process of designing her “forever” home, she said that trying to explain what is in her brain and how to get the message across was “quite confronting” at the start. But everyone that she worked with at Brookwater made the whole process seamless and “nailed it.”

“In the end, when you look back at all the decisions you’ve made, there wasn’t one regret – there never will be a regret. And I think that the best part of it is that we’ve done it. This is it! And it’s on the page and I can’t wait to see the process of it being built.”

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Ash recently stunned the sporting world when she announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 25. In an emotional video that she shared on social media, she said that she is grateful for everything tennis has given her but she knew that the time is right to “chase other dreams and put the racket down.”

But why retire when she is at the peak of her career?

“To be able to win Wimbledon…the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective.

“I just had the gut feeling after Wimbledon – and I have spoken to my team quite a lot about it — and there was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled.

“And then came the challenge of the Australian Open and I think that for me just feels like the most perfect way, my perfect way, to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been.

“As a person, this is what I want. I want to chase after some other dreams.”

Ipswich’s Ash Barty Named 2020 Young Australian Of The Year

Ipswich’s WTA singles number one and former cricketer and teen tennis champion, Ashleigh Barty, has just been honoured as the 2020 Young Australian of the Year.

Ash Barty was recognised for inspiring “legions of fans with her dynamic tennis game, formidable serve and down-to-earth attitude.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in her message said that she is delighted that Ash has been recognised as 2020 Young Australian of the Year and a role model for Queenslanders and Australians of all ages.

“From Ipswich to becoming the world’s number 1 player, at just 23 years old, Ash has already established herself as one of our country’s most talented and inspirational sportspeople.”

It was a fitting recognition for the tennis champion whose 2019 performance has been nothing short of stellar. She rose to become the world’s number one women’s singles player, the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley, after winning the 2019 Birmingham Classic.

“As the National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia, Ash has also encouraged more Indigenous youth to participate in the sport and pursue an active and healthy lifestyle,” the Premier said.

Ash Barty Named 2020 Young Australian Of The Year — *Photo credit: Annastacia Palaszczuk MP / Facebook*

“And as the 2020 Young Australian of the Year, she will continue to be an inspiration to all young people and a great example that with hard work and determination, you can achieve your dreams and do it with humble and gracious spirit.”

“On behalf of all Queenslanders I congratulate Ash on this prestigious honour and on establishing a lasting legacy as one of our State’s finest.”

Ash Barty was also the 2019 WTA awards Player of the Year and recipient of the 2019 “The Don” Award by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Ipswich Tennis Champion Ashleigh Barty Wins 2020 QLD Young Australian of the Year Award

Following an impressive year on and off the court, tennis star Ashleigh Barty was named the winner of the 2020 Queensland Young Australian of the Year Award. The 23-year-old athlete from Ipswich recently impressed tennis fans after winning her first Grand Slam singles title at this year’s French Open.

Ms Barty climbed the ranks to become the current number one singles tennis player in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). She is the second Australian to hold such an honor after Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

A former cricket player before shifting to tennis, Ms Barty previously won six singles titles at the WTA and won one Grand Slam doubles title with co-player Coco Vandeweghe at the U.S. Open in 2018.

The tennis superstar is loved by fans, not just for her skills on the court. She is also an inspiration and a positive role model to many because of her down-to-earth attitude.

Ms Barty is also a National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador for Tennis Australia as a First Nations woman.

“From humble beginnings as a young tennis player from Ipswich to the top of the tennis world, her professionalism on and off the court, her dogged determination, her talent and skills are second to none,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said of Barty’s win as Queensland Young Australian of the Year.

“Ash is an inspirational young Queenslander and a fantastic role model for other young Queenslanders, and is highly deserving of this special commendation.”

Ms Barty wasn’t able to personally receive the award during the ceremony in Brisbane. Her father, Robert Barty, got on stage on her behalf.

*Photo Credit: Australian of the Year/Facebook*

“If someone would have said to me at the start of the year that your daughter’s going to be number one in the world, then I would have said, ‘Wake up to yourself she’s not that good’. But she’s just done some incredible stuff,” Mr Barty said.

“I had to go to Cairns with her recently to help some young indigenous kids get into the sport, and she said to me up there when we jumped on the plane to come home, ‘Dad I could do this every day, this is what really matters. This is great stuff, this is so much better than playing tennis’,” he added.