TENNIS ACE

Who are your inspirations?

My family. I’m very close to my mum and dad and my sisters. They’re my rocks and have been there for me through the good times and the tough times. We all live very close to each other and I talk to them every day on Facetime when I’m away. I’m so grateful to have them as my number-one supporters.

What does your Indigenous heritage, and your work with Indigenous children, mean to you?

My sister Sara started looking into our heritage a few years ago. It’s something my sisters and I are proud of and wanted to learn more about. I feel strongly about helping the Indigenous community and have a few different roles at the moment where I focus on giving back through education and sporting programs. Evonne [Goolagong-cawley] and I went to Cairns last year and visited a few Indigenous schools as part of my role as Tennis Australia’s National Indigenous Ambassador. It was honestly one of the most rewarding and enjoyable days I have had – there is nothing better than seeing the smiles on the faces of those kids. That is the sort of work I hope to do more of when I finish playing.

What lessons do you hope Indigenous children can learn from you?

To believe in themselves and know they can achieve anything. If I can help inspire one boy or girl to chase their dreams, then I would be proud of that.

You famously left tennis for a while in your teens and took up cricket. What motivated you to come back?

I missed tennis, especially the one-on-one competitive nature of the sport, and felt I had something left to give. I was having a beer with Casey Dellacqua one day and we started talking about tennis and what a return would look like. That chat was when I decided to start the ball rolling.

Within three years of returning to tennis, you’d won the 2019 French Open. How do you think you rose through the ranks so quickly?

Hard work. My team and I have worked hard since day one of my comeback, chipping away and getting better every day. I’m so proud of what we have been able to achieve over the past few years – it’s incredibly rewarding that our hard work is paying off. Winning my first grand slam is something I will never forget – it was incredibly special.

Women’s tennis has always been popular, and grand slams now all offer women the same prize money as men. But women still earn less for winning other titles, and still receive less media coverage. In addition, the

Herald Sun’s infamous cartoon of Serena Williams clearly shows women (and particularly women of colour) are held to different standards on court. What progress do you hope to see in tennis regarding gender?

I hope more girls start playing tennis. I think women’s sport, particularly in Australia, is in the strongest place it has ever been. There are so many opportunities now for young girls to get into professional sport and that’s exciting.

What are your hopes for the future?

For my family and I to stay happy and healthy. For me to keep learning every day and working to be the best version of myself both on and off the tennis court. E

ASH BARTY REVEALS HOW FAMILY, HERITAGE AND SHARING THE OCCASIONAL BEER HAS KEPT HER GROUNDED AND HELPED HER REACH WORLD NO.1