Australian tennis champion Ash Barty has delighted her legion of fans after she announced on Friday, January 6 that she is expecting a baby with her husband Garry Kissick.
The former World No. 1 took to Instagram to share her excitement with the world regarding the upcoming arrival, sharing a photo of a pair of baby shoes placed next to one of her dogs.
“2023 set to be the best year yet. We are so excited for our new adventure. Origi already the protective big sister,” she wrote.
Fans and fellow sporting figures were quick to congratulate Barty and Kissick on their great news.
Former Olympic swimmer Gian Rooney was among the first to offer her best wishes
“Woohoo!!! Congratulations!!!” she wrote.
Tennis Australia also offered their best to the 26 year old.
“Huge congrats! Exciting times ahead,” they wrote.
Retired Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua claimed that she was “so excited” for “bubba to join the brood”.
“Congratulations Ash and Garry!! So exciting,” one fan wrote.
“OMG BEST NEWS!! Cutest baby ever incoming!”
“Yewwwww !! And what a year it will be ! Family is best ! Congrats,” commented another.
“Congratulations!!! What a gift!”
The well wishes were not just contained to Barty’s original post with fans across the globe taking to Twitter to revel in the good news.
Barty’s pregnancy comes after an already busy few months for the 26 year old. After hanging up her racquet in early 2022, Barty released her memoir, claimed victory in a golf tournament at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club and in July 2022 she married long-time beau Garry Kissick, surprising fans with a photo of the secret ceremony.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Barty later revealed that she was making her mark in the corporate world with her new role with the Australian telecom giant, Optus, as their new “Chief of Inspiration”.
After what has already been a jam-packed retirement, Barty recently revealed to Sunrise that based on the last few months, her post-tennis life is “going to be a really fun journey”.
“Life’s been great,” Barty said.
“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I feel very fortunate I’ve been able to live out my childhood dream and have a career for 20 years.
“It was something I loved and now what excites me is our next chapter and what that is I’m not quite sure yet but the last six months, if it’s anything to go by, it’s going to be a really fun journey.
“Much to a lot of people’s disgust, the professional athlete is done, the tank is empty but it has been a lot of fun ticking off a few other things that I was loved to do. I’m a weekend hacker on the golf course, I love to get out with my mum and my girlfriends and that’s about as far as we go.”