COUNTDOWN TO BABY BARTY! BIG BUST-UP!
Ash Barty stunned the tennis world in 2022 by walking away from the sport while still the world’s number one player.
Following her surprise retirement just months after winning the Australian Open, Ash explained she no longer felt motivated to compete “at the very top of the level” – and instead wanted to “chase after some other dreams” – both personal and professional.
“I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash
Barty the athlete,” the 26-year-old reflected.
And it appears that family ranks highly among those new set of priorities!
Shortly after retiring, Ash married aspiring professional golfer Garry Kissick.
Now, ‘Aunty Ash’ is setting up her home base near Brisbane and reportedly relishes being an active and available babysitter for her nieces and nephew.
Even while meeting the gruelling demands of life as a professional athlete, Ash always made time for her family. She memorably brought then new born niece Olivia into a press conference and told reporters: “This is what life is all about.”
“For me, it’s all about family,” she reiterated in another interview. “It’s all I want to do when I get home is come to see my family, spend time with my niece and nephew.”
So, little ones of her own are sure to follow soon.
“Both Ash and Garry’s priority now is to start a family as soon as possible,” an insider says.
“They have the big, beautiful, new family home they’ve moved into and everything feels perfect right now,” adds the source.
For decades, fans have longed for a sequel to The Way We Were, but it’s unlikely to eventuate as Robert Redford, 86, refuses to work with his “controlling” co-star Barbra Streisand ever again!
“Robert is too much of a gentleman to say it to her face, but Barbra drove him crazy when they were making the movie and she’s the last person he’d want as his leading lady,” spills a source.
While shooting the 1973 film, Barbra, now 80, was reportedly “strongly opinionated”.
Still, she remains undeterred, especially as 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of The Way We Were.
“Barbra won’t stop bugging Robert and won’t take a hint. His standoffishness just seems to spur Barbra on even more,” adds the showbiz insider.