Ash Barty is a home-grown Ipswich superstar, and next month will be a rare chance to cheer her on live as she leads the Australian Fed Cup team at Pat Rafter Arena.
To celebrate, Tennis Queensland and Ipswich City Council is co-hosting a specially decked out Barty Bus to and from the court.
That’s free transport for ticket holders, all the noise a busload of people can muster, and enough green and gold to make a proud Aussie blush.
Our Fed Cup semi-final opponents Belarus won’t know what hit them when the all-chanting, all-singing, all-dancing party on wheels pulls in to the stadium.
Ash Barty says the Fed Cup is an exciting event.
“Getting to play in Brisbane is amazing. For me this is my backyard, it’s unreal,” she said.
“I’m hoping we can have a lot of fans and kids from Ipswich in the crowd supporting the Aussie team on Easter weekend. We would love to have an absolutely packed Pat Rafter Arena, it’s a beautiful court, especially at that time of the year.
“Thanks to the Ipswich City Council and Tennis Queensland for organising a free bus from Ipswich to the tennis. Hopefully this makes it easy for our local fans to come and support us.”
Ipswich City Council CEO David Farmer said Ash already had keys to the city – and they couldn’t be in safer hands.
“Ipswich has every right to be proud of Ash as she wins her way into the world’s top 10 players,” Mr Farmer said.
“The Barty Bus is an opportunity for locals to express their pride when Ash hopefully leads Australia’s charge into the Fed Cup final.”
Seats on the Barty Bus will be free to anybody who secures a ticket to the Fed Cup semi-final on April 20 and/or 21.
Tickets can be bought from Ticketek, and bus seats can be secured by emailing tennisqueenslandinfo@tennis.com.au.
The bus will leave from the Visitor Information Centre at Queens Park at 10.30am on each day, and from the Springfield Community Office on the corner of Commercial Drive and Woodcrest Way at 10.50am.
Main photo: Getty Images captures Ash Barty in action.