Proud city ready for an Ash Barty party

Ash Barty’s first victory against a top-10 ranked opponent came at last week’s Cincinnati Open.

Barty beat seven-time Grand Slam champ Venus Williams before losing to another former world number one, Caroline Wozniacki, in the round of 16.

It continued an impressive run of form for the Springfield 21-year-old who started her sports odyssey at West Brisbane Tennis Centre in Richlands.

Her childhood coach, Jim Joyce, has been with the powerful right hander every step of the way.

“Ash came in a month or so off turning five years old and in 10 minutes I knew she stood out,” Joyce told Ipswich First.

“It wasn’t just her hand-eye coordination, it was her focus and concentration for someone so young. She was up there with the seven to 10-year-olds.

“Her ability to learn and willingness to learn were just so special from the very first day. All she wanted to do was be out there on the court.”

Barty’s first professional outing was at the City of Ipswich Tennis International at Leichhardt’s George Alder Tennis Centre in 2010.

She was beaten by fellow Aussie Karolina Wlodarczak but success soon followed with Barty winning the 2011 Wimbledon Girls’ Singles title over Irina Khromacheva.

“At 15 you don’t expect that – I thought grass would be her surface and I thought she’d win a Junior Wimbledon title when she was 17 or 18 – not 15,” Joyce said.

“Ash was taken over there for the experience as the best junior in Australia and all of a sudden she kept winning and winning and winning.”

Barty’s WTA debut came at the 2012 Brisbane International, followed by her first grand slam at the 2012 Australian Open.

She teamed up with Casey Dellacqua to make the women’s doubles finals at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open in 2013.

While the ‘ABCD’ partnership has so far been unable to claim grand slam glory, Joyce said the duo deserved success.

“They’ve definitely had their chances and I hope they can get there,” he said.

“Casey is great for Ash, it helps a lot having a close friend on the tour and Casey is like a big sister.

“She’s helped Ash relax more off the court and I think she’s showing her a different way of approaching the time away.”

Time away and burn out led to Barty taking a step back from professional tennis at the end of 2014.

She returned to Richlands and started coaching at holiday clinics before the Brisbane Heat came calling.

Joyce said many had misinterpreted Barty’s move to the Women’s Big Bash League.

“Ash didn’t give up tennis for cricket, she had a break on her own terms and gave up tennis for coaching,” he said.

“I think that break really changed things for her – all she wanted to do was coach tennis and get away from the pressure and expectation that come with being an Australian tennis player.

“She came back here and worked really solidly and then cricket came to her and asked her to have a hit.”

Barty’s Brisbane Heat career was short-lived and it was only a matter of time until tennis came calling again.

She returned to professional tennis in May 2016 and finished the season ranked 271 in the world.

Her win over Williams has her positioned at 42 in the world and Barty is now Queensland’s top-ranked tennis player ahead of Sam Stosur.

“Ash has only been back for five minutes and she’s already beating or going three sets with the best players in the world,” Joyce said.

“She’s struggling to go back to back, as you saw with Williams and then losing to Wozniacki, but she’s well ahead of where I thought she’d be.

“I think you’ll see the best of Ash in 12 months to two years. If she stays happy and injury free she could do anything in tennis.”