Ashleigh Barty announces birth of first child: ‘Welcome to the world’
Former world No 1 Ashleigh Barty and her husband Garry Kissick have welcomed their first child into the world with the couple announcing the birth on social media.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Barty revealed in January this year that she was set to become a mother and on Tuesday, July 4 she confirmed the arrival of a boy named Hayden.
An Instagram picture of the new addition to the family was accompanied by the caption: “Our beautiful boy ❤️ Welcome to the world, Hayden!”
The tennis community were quick to congratulate one of the sport’s most-loved former players with Johanna Konta, a former British No 1 who gave birth to her first child in September last year, replying: “Congratulations!!!!!!! 💙💙”
The official Wimbledon Instagram account wanted to know: “Future Wimbledon champ? Congratulations! 💜”
Victoria Azarenka, one of the few mothers who are still playing on the WTA Tour after giving birth, wrote: “Congratulations mama! All the best to you guys ❤️”
Barty and Kissick got married in July 2022, just a few months after the Australian announced her shock retirement from the sport.
In an interview with Vogue following their wedding, Barty said of her husband: “He’s extremely patient with me, and when we met he didn’t know a lot about tennis.
“He’s kind of been thrown in the very deep end in understanding what the tour is like and how much we’re apart, but he’s the best person to have around in the sense of switching off from tennis and being able to bring the fun and laughter.
“I certainly wouldn’t want to share this journey with anyone else.”
Barty lifted the Australian Open trophy in January 2022 – becoming the first Australian woman since Chris O’Neill in 1978 to win their home Grand Slam – and in March she confirmed she had played her last match as a professional as she had achieved everything she wanted to achieve in tennis.
She has kept busy following her retirement as she wrote a book titled “My Dream Time: A Memoir of Tennis & Teamwork” as well as a series of children’s books called “Little Ash”.
The 27-year-old also took on a mentoring roll with fellow Australian Olivia Gadecki during the Australian Open this year and, of course, played a lot of golf.
READ MORE: Ashleigh Barty insists ‘I’m done’ with tennis – and don’t expect to see her in the commentary booth
