Ashleigh Barty, born April 24, 1996 in Ipswich, Australia, is a former professional tennis player and one of the most versatile athletes in the sport. She reached the No. 1 position in the WTA rankings and won three Grand Slam titles: Roland Garros in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021, and the Australian Open in 2022. Barty was known for her versatile game, with a mix of strong strokes and clever tactics. In addition to tennis, Barty also had a brief career in cricket, before returning to tennis in 2016 and quickly returning to the top. In March 2022, she surprisingly announced her retirement, at just 25 years old, to focus on other aspects of her life outside of sports.
Name: Ashleigh Barty
Birthplace: Queensland, Australia
Born: April 24, 1996
Turned Pro: 2010
Height: 1.66m
Ashleigh Barty, born April 24, 1996 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, is a former professional tennis player known for her versatility and smart game. She became a world star at a young age, especially after winning three Grand Slam titles: Roland Garros (2019), Wimbledon (2021), and the Australian Open (2022). At her peak, she reached the No. 1 position in the WTA rankings, a spot she held for more than 100 weeks.
Barty comes from a sporting family and is of native Australian descent. She took a break from tennis in 2014 and played professional cricket, but returned to tennis in 2016 and experienced rapid success. She surprisingly announced her retirement in March 2022 at the age of 25, at the height of her career, to focus on her personal life. Her annual income came from prize money and lucrative sponsorship deals with brands such as Fila, Rado, and Jaguar, earning her millions.
Ashleigh Barty married her childhood sweetheart Garry Kissick in 2022 and remains active in other sporting and business ventures after her retirement from professional tennis.
Ashleigh Barty began her impressive journey to the top of women's tennis at a young age. Making her professional debut at the age of 14, she won the junior tournament at Wimbledon in 2011, immediately establishing her name as an emerging talent. She had an early breakthrough in doubles, where she and compatriot Casey Dellacqua reached multiple Grand Slam finals, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in 2013.
In 2014, when she was only 18 years old, Barty took a surprising break from tennis. She struggled with mental pressure and decided to take a break from the sport. During this break, she discovered her passion for cricket and joined the professional cricket team Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Despite no previous professional experience in cricket, Barty proved that her athletic talent was universal. She performed well, highlighting her versatility and adaptability.
In 2016, however, Barty returned to tennis and slowly but surely began her rise to the top of singles. Her first WTA title came in Kuala Lumpur, and she quickly climbed up the world rankings. Her return was impressive, and by the end of that year she was back in the top 100.
The year 2017 marked her real breakthrough in singles. She won the WTA tournament in Birmingham, her first Premier title, and reached the final of the Premier 5 tournament in Wuhan. She finished the year in the top 20 and proved that she was among the world's best not only in doubles, but also in singles.
In 2018, Barty's consistency became increasingly evident. She won her second WTA title in Nottingham and closed the year by winning the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai. She also reached the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the US Open, and in doubles she won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open with Coco Vandeweghe.
The year 2019 was the highlight of Barty's career up to that point. She won her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, becoming the first Australian woman since Margaret Court to win that tournament. Soon after, she reached the No. 1 position in the WTA rankings for the first time in her career. She confirmed her status as one of the best tennis players in the world by winning the Miami Open and ending her season with a victory at the WTA Finals in Shenzhen. She closed the 2019 year as the world's No. 1.
In 2020, the season was greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Barty decided not to participate in international tournaments for the rest of the season after her semifinal finish at the Australian Open and a title in Adelaide due to health and travel restrictions. Despite her absence, she continued to finish the year as the world No. 1, a testament to her dominant performances in previous years.
2021 was a brilliant year for Barty, who finally won her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. This victory was extra special, as she had always dreamed of winning on Wimbledon's iconic grass. She defeated Karolina Pliskova in the final and confirmed her status as one of the best players of her generation. She also won titles in Miami, Stuttgart and Cincinnati that year, and for the second year in a row she finished the season as the world No. 1.
In early 2022, Barty reached the pinnacle of her career by winning the Australian Open, earning her third Grand Slam title and becoming the first Australian woman since Chris O'Neil in 1978 to win the tournament on home soil. Her victory without losing a set made her achievement even more impressive. Many expected this to be the beginning of more great victories, but just weeks later Barty surprised the tennis world by announcing her retirement on March 23, 2022. She declared that she had achieved her goals in the sport and was ready for a new chapter in her life, outside of tennis.
With her decision to retire at the age of 25 while still ranked No. 1 in the world, Barty showed her unique perspective on the sport and her desire to follow other passions. Although her retirement came early, her legacy remains enormous. She won three Grand Slam titles (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Australian Open) and topped the WTA rankings for more than 100 weeks.
Ashleigh Barty's career is one of the most fascinating stories in recent tennis history. Her break, comeback and decision to quit at her peak are a testament to her mental strength, determination and broad interests beyond tennis. Despite her early farewell, she remains one of the most beloved and respected athletes, both in Australia and worldwide.
Ashleigh Barty will no longer be active as a professional tennis player in 2024, as she announced her retirement in March 2022. Despite her early departure from the sport, Barty remains an influential figure in the sports world in 2024 and is involved in several projects outside of tennis.
After Tennis in 2024:
- Business ventures:
Barty remains active in the business world, including with her investments and collaborations, such as her brand Sugarpova. She is also involved in various sports and health projects.
- Mentoring and promoting sports:
Barty plays an active role in promoting tennis and sports in general, especially in Australia. She is an inspiration to young athletes and regularly advises and mentors up-and-coming tennis players.
- Personal life:
In 2022 Barty married her childhood sweetheart Garry Kissick, and in 2024 she remains focused on her personal life and family.
Although Barty is no longer on the tennis court, she remains a prominent figure in the sports world in 2024 and is involved in several initiatives that reflect her influence and passion for sports.
Grand Slam titles (Singles)
1. Roland Garros:
- 2019
2. Wimbledon:
- 2021
3. Australian Open:
- 2022
WTA Finals (Singles).
1. WTA Finals:
- 2019
WTA Premier Mandatory & Premier 5 titles (Singles).
1. Miami Open:
- 2019, 2021
2. Cincinnati Open:
- 2021
3. Stuttgart Open:
- 2021
4. Wuhan Open:
- 2018
WTA titles (Singles).
1. Kuala Lumpur:
- 2017
2. Nottingham Open:
- 2018
3. Zhuhai Elite Trophy:
- 2018
4. Birmingham Open:
- 2019
5. Adelaide International:
- 2020, 2022
6. Yarra Valley Classic (Melbourne):
- 2021
Grand Slam titles (Doubles).
1. US Open:
- 2018 (with CoCo Vandeweghe)
Ashleigh Barty has won 15 WTA singles titles and 12 doubles titles in her career, including three singles Grand Slam titles (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Australian Open) and one doubles Grand Slam title (US Open). Her achievements made her one of the most successful tennis players of her generation.