Ash Barty’s legacy immortalised with Queensland Sport Hall of Fame induction

Former World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty received a special tribute in Queensland upon being inducted into the state's Sport Hall of Fame. The Australian former tennis star has been enjoying her retirement since 2022 and has once again been honored for her remarkable career, which includes three Grand Slam titles.

Without a doubt, Barty's retirement left fans mourning the early conclusion of the career of one of the greatest talents of recent decades. She became the champion of Roland Garros (2019), Wimbledon (2021), and the Australian Open (2022), becoming the first local female player to win the latter title since Chris O’Neil 44 years prior in 1978.

However, just weeks later, Barty announced her retirement while ranked World No. 1, having spent a total of 121 weeks at the summit of the rankings. "I don't have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more. I am spent,” the Australian commented in her announcement interview with former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, finalizing her departure from the courts at just 26 years old.

Her 114 consecutive weeks at No. 1 (not including when rankings were frozen between March and August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) is the fourth-longest streak in WTA history.

The former tennis star was born in Ipswich, Queensland, and grew up in the suburb of Springfield. It was there that Barty discovered her love for tennis, beginning work with her longtime junior coach Jim Joyce at the West Brisbane Tennis Centre at the age of four.

After an early career where she excelled in both singles and doubles, Barty stood out by reaching three Grand Slam doubles finals in 2013. At just 17, she achieved her first WTA-level doubles titles and secured her first significant singles wins. However, she decided to pause her career while ranked in the Top 40 for doubles and Top 200 for singles—a period that included some Grand Slam victories. The hiatus lasted nearly two years.

"It was too much too quickly for me as I've been travelling from quite a young age... I wanted to experience life as a normal teenaged girl and have some normal experiences.”

During that break, Barty had a stint as a professional cricketer playing for Western Suburbs, but it was just a temporary adventure. She returned to tennis in 2016 to showcase her talent, rapidly climbing the rankings. She went on to win a total of 15 titles, including three Grand Slams, the 2019 WTA Finals, and three WTA 1000 titles.

One of the driving forces behind Barty's retirement was the desire to start a family with her husband, Australian professional golfer Garry Kissick, whom she married in July 2022, just months after her retirement. A year later, Barty announced the birth of her son, Hayden, while in June of 2025, she welcomed her daughter, Jordan.

This isn't the first time Ash Barty has been honored in Queensland, where she has become a true inspiration for locals. Earlier this year, the "Queensland Tennis Ace Ash Barty" park was inaugurated to commemorate her sporting achievements, featuring various green areas for local children. From above, the park’s winding footpaths create the shape of a larger-than-life tennis ball.

This time, the tribute was her induction into the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame, joining other notable names in Australian sport such as swimmers Kieren Perkins and Susie O’Neill—both Olympic champions—and “The King” Wally Lewis, considered by many to be the greatest Rugby League player in history.

“Last night was an incredible celebration of Queensland sport, recognising contributions from the grassroots level to the elite,” Barty posted on social media. “Congratulations to the other inductees and to Ian Healy for being elevated to Legend status ✨”