Ashleigh Barty engaged: World number one tennis player Ashleigh Barty has announced her engagement to boyfriend and golf professional Garry Kissick.
The two-time singles major champion took to her social media and posted a picture with Garry and captioned it, “Future Husband.” On the professional front, Barty has been named world number one for the third time in a row, even after opting out of the WTA Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico, last month to focus on Australia Open preparations.
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Ashleigh Barty engaged: The Aussie last competed at the US Open in September before returning home to Australia. Barty bagged a total of five titles this year, including her second Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon Championships, where she was the first Australian woman to triumph since her friend and mentor Evonne Goolagong Cawley claimed the 1981 ladies’ title.
Ashleigh Barty will return to tour next year and will eye Australian Open title. The 25-year-old also determined to hold the top ranking again in the next season, saying “I truly wanted to be the No 1″. She said “It was the realisation of my determination, the competitive drive that was burning. I thought, ‘You know what? Someone is going to have to be really, really good to take this off me.” as quoted by CodeSports.
Ashleigh Barty engaged: World No1 Barty announces engagement to long time partner Garry Kissick
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Ashleigh Barty reflected on her 2021 season and is incredibly proud of holding on to World No.1 ranking this season. She said “Holding the No 1 ranking again to finish 2021 is something I am incredibly proud of after such a challenging and unusual season.” She further added “To have spent so much time on the road, to have asked the people I love and admire to support me and make sacrifices, and for us to prevail is an achievement to celebrate.”
Earlier this year, Ashleigh Barty was rattled when her top position was questioned by the people and leading them to think that Noami Osaka is more deserving to be World No.1, given the fact that she won two Grand Slam titles in a row, 2020 US Open and 2021 Australian Open. The 25-year-old said “When we arrived in Miami in late March, I felt people were questioning whether I was the rightful No 1 given Naomi Osaka had won a couple of Grand Slams in succession.”
Also read: Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic remains non-committal about Australian Open participation
However, Barty made her statement by proving the critics wrong and successfully defended her Miami Open title this year. She said “It was probably the first time I felt a little rattled and I really wanted to make a statement on the court.”
Ashleigh Barty engaged: World No1 Barty announces engagement to long time partner Garry Kissick
Also read: Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic remains non-committal about Australian Open participation
Commenting on her pre-season preparation ahead of 2022 season, Ashleigh Barty feels refreshed after virtually three-month break from tennis and also expressed her exhilaration for 2022 Australian Open. She said “I’ve had a good break and feel refreshed. On Monday, I enter what we call the hurt locker. The pre-season is never easy and I am going to hate the next few weeks.”
She further added “I know that I will be feeling on top of the world at the end of it and raring to go for the Australian summer. Bring it on.”
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