Ash surprises proud father

ROB Barty thought it was exciting when daughter Ashleigh cracked the top 100 in women’s tennis — now she is world No.2 and a winner of a grand slam.

“She sent me a text when she cracked the top 100 and said ‘Hey Dad, finally made it. I’m in the Top 100’,” Barty told ABC radio yesterday.

“I can remember speaking to my wife Josie about it and saying I wonder if Ash will ever be as good to be seeded in a grand slam event as in top 32.

“Now here we are 12-18 months later she’s No.2 in the world and she’s won a grand slam.”

He said the French Open win on Sunday felt “pretty surreal” with the Queenslander the first Australian to win the event since Margaret Court in 1973. Rob and Josie did not make it to France in time for their daughter’s game but have since caught up with her and her coach Craig Tyzzer for a round of golf.

“They were both very, very happy, very pleased with themselves, but quite exhausted to be honest,” he said.

When the 23-year-old walked away from tennis five years ago her parents supported her decision.

“When she quit I never for one moment thought she would go back to tennis,” he said.

“We never raised it with her during her time off. It wasn’t until one day. I came home and found about four boxes of new tennis balls at the front door.

“It was Ash deciding she was going back to play tennis and away she went.”