Ash Barty has announced that she is expecting her second child with her husband Garry Kissick.
The Australian tennis champion, 28, took to Instagram on Christmas Day to share the joyful family news with her 505,000 followers.
She posted a sweet photo of her 17-month-old son Hayden standing in front of her Christmas tree wearing a T-shirt with some revealing words.
It read: “I’m going to be a… big brother,” as Ash revealed the exciting news in his adorable Christmas Day post.
Alongside the photo, she wrote: “Merry Christmas from our growing family to yours!”
She was quickly inundated with sweet congratulatory messages from her friends and followers.
Ash Barty has announced that she is expecting her second child with her husband Garry Kissick.
Comedian Tanya Hennessy wrote: ‘What???!! OMG, congratulations on the beauty.
While swimmer Libby Trickett commented: ‘Ahhh congratulations! The most wonderful news.
Dutch tennis player Kiki Bertens said: “Congratulations,” and cricketer Chris Lynn added: “Congratulations legends.”
Ash welcomed her first child with golfer Gary in July last year and took to Instagram at the time to share the news.
The couple shared a photo of the little one snuggled up in a blanket and confirmed they had named their baby Hayden in a caption.
Garry gushed: ‘Our beautiful boy. Welcome to the world, Hayden!
Later, Ash spoke about the joy of being a mother and shared how raising her newborn son, Hayden, has been rewarding in many ways.
“It’s the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Ash told News Corp.
On Instagram on Christmas Day, Ash posted a sweet photo of his 17-month-old son Hayden standing in front of his Christmas tree wearing a T-shirt with some revealing words.
‘Hayden is amazing, I feel very lucky. “Garry and I are really enjoying a pretty quiet time together at home as a little family.”
Ash and Garry welcomed Hayden into the world just a year after they tied the knot in a private ceremony in Queensland on July 30, 2022, just months after she retired.
The couple, who are very private about their relationship, first met in 2016 and got engaged in November 2021.
Ash sensationally left professional tennis at the peak of his powers following his historic victory at the Australian Open in January 2022.
At the time of his retirement, Ash had held world No. 1 status since June 2019 and had just won a third Grand Slam title in three years.
But Ash said she has no regrets about retiring and said she was surprised by how “comfortable” she felt leaving the sport in an interview last year.
“I think there was probably a normal fear or uncertainty of not knowing what my life would be like after tennis after I had been so focused,” she told the New York Times.
‘I was a little unsure how I would deal with that because I’m a person who likes to be organised.
Ash sensationally left professional tennis at the peak of his powers following his historic victory at the Australian Open in January 2022 (pictured)
“There was probably a little bit of fear in that, but overall, that hasn’t been an issue, a concern or a worry.”
‘What has been surprising in a good way is that I have adapted without problems to this life that is like everyone else’s. Which is always what I wanted.
Ash has since dispelled rumors that she would return to professional tennis or take up golf, the same sport her husband Garry plays.
“The answer to both is no,” he told New Idea magazine when asked about the speculation.