"I’m grateful": Ashleigh Barty to return to the court as Brisbane International partnership confirmed

Former world number one Ashleigh Barty has joined hands with Brisbane International. The 28-year-old was once regarded as the best player in women’s tennis in the singles category. Barty, established by the Ash Barty Foundation, will be at the Pat Rafter Arena on the opening day of the competition.

The event will be organised on December 29. The competition will also begin on December 29 and will finish on January 5, where some big-name players will participate to showcase their talent and prepare for the first Grand Slam of the year. The competition features four categories: men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and women’s doubles.

Last year, in the men’s singles category, it was Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov who lifted the title after beating Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-4. In the women’s singles category, one-time Grand Slam winner Elena Rybakina defeated reigning world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the final to lift the title in straight sets with a score 6-0, 6-3. The three-time Grand Slam winner has also been quoted in a report where she stated that she was ‘grateful’ to the authorities for giving her an opportunity to raise awareness about her foundation.

“I’m grateful to the Brisbane International team for providing me with an opportunity to raise awareness for the Ash Barty Foundation and to engage with young Australians throughout the tournament,” said Barty. “I have been fortunate in terms of my journey but not all kids have that same experience. The Ash Barty Foundation’s goal is to provide more opportunities for boys and girls to discover what they love to do and to give them the ability to follow their dreams. I am incredibly proud of the work we have done so far, but it’s only the beginning.”