Ashleigh Barty

Global Tennis icon. Role model.

Born on April 24, 1996, in Ipswich, Queensland, Barty would eventually become one of Australia’s most accomplished athletes ever.

From a young age, Barty displayed a natural athleticism and love for sports, working with her junior coach Jim Joyce to hone her innate talent and skills with the ball, setting the stage for success. In her junior career, Barty was quick to make an impression, taking out national titles well beyond her age category, winning wildcard playoffs, and winning the 2011 Wimbledon Junior Championships.

In 2014, Barty took a hiatus from the sport due to burnout, which she references in her book, My Dream Time. During her break, Barty had a short stint in professional cricket in the Women’s Big Bash League, showcasing her versatility as an athlete.

In 2016, after a call from former doubles partner, lifelong friend and mentor Casey Dellacqua, Barty made the decision to return to the sport, enjoying a meteoric rise, climbing from an unranked player, to the world’s top 20 in just over 12 months.

In 2019, Barty achieved a career-defining moment, securing her first Grand Slam singles title at Roland Garros, becoming the first Australian to do so since 1973. 

Barty went on to finish world No.1 in the year-end-rankings that year, a position she maintained from 2019-2022. During that time Barty won an additional two Grand Slam titles (Wimbledon 2021, Australian Open 2022) and an Olympic Bronze Medal alongside her mixed doubles partner John Peers (Tokyo 2020).

In March 2022, ranked world No.1 and reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, Ash shocked the world by announcing her retirement from professional tennis, departing in an empowered position and as one of the most accomplished players ever. 

In her life post-tennis, Ash set out to pursue other passions, becoming a book author, starting her own foundation, and growing her family with the birth of her first son Hayden.

In January 2024, Ash also formally launched the Ash Barty Foundation, a passion project from her early playing days where she can further pursue her commitment to creating sport and education opportunities for youth in communities around Australia.