Former world number one tennis player Ash Barty has announced the birth of her first child.
Key points:
- Ash Barty and her husband Gary Kissick shared the news on social media
- The child — the couple’s first — has been named Hayden
- Barty announced she was pregnant in January
The Queenslander and her husband Gary Kissick posted a picture of the “beautiful boy” on social media on Tuesday night.
“Welcome to the world, Hayden!” they wrote in a caption.
Australian tennis player Maddison Inglis and football star Samantha Kerr were among those to congratulate the new parents.
“Omg!!!! Congratulations … he’s so gorgeous,” Inglis commented.
The Australian Open account described the news as “the greatest triumph”, while Wimbledon’s account was quick to judge the fate of the newborn.
“Future Wimbledon champ? Congratulations!” it said.
The 26-year-old mother had announced she was pregnant in January, sharing a photo of her dog, Origi, lying next to a pair of baby shoes.
“2023 set to be the best year yet. We are so excited for our new adventure,” Barty had said on Instagram.
“Origi is already the protective big sister.”
Barty shocked the tennis world when she revealed she was retiring from the sport in March.
She said she wanted to give back to the community and spend more time with her family.
Barty reached the pinnacle of world tennis as number one during a decorated career on the WTA tour.
She won three grand slam victories — the 2020 French Open, 2021 Wimbledon and last year’s Australian Open.
She and her golfer partner exchanged wedding vows at a private Queensland ceremony in July last year.