Nic Morley via Ash Barty / Instagram
When Ash Barty announced her engagement to long-time partner Garry Kissick, all of Australia celebrated with them. Now, the couple has married in a very private ceremony in Queensland, attended by some of Australia’s tennis elite.
The tennis pro, whose career has soared since she began playing professionally aged just 15, has had her achievements splashed across virtually every publication in the country, particularly in 2021 when she became the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong Cawley took out the title in 1980.
Barty’s engagement news that followed in November 2021 was the perfect way to end such an eventful year for the 25-year-old—and it provided a rare insight into her famously private relationship with PGA trainee professional, Kissick.
Here, we look back at the couple’s relationship over the years.
Who is Ash Barty’s partner?
Ash Barty is engaged to Garry Kissick, a 30-year-old PGA trainee professional who currently resides in Ipswich, Queensland—which is where Barty herself grew up.
Kissick has worked at the Brookwater Golf & Country Club for more than 10 years. Incidentally, this is the very place where he reportedly met Barty.
Between his work on the greens, Kissick is dedicated to supporting Barty in her whirlwind career, often sharing snaps of the pair travelling to various tennis tournaments together.
Ash Barty and Gary Kissick’s relationship
Ash Barty and Gary Kissick met in 2016, and they went public in 2017 while attending the John Newcombe Awards together. Perhaps Kissick was a good luck charm, because Barty won her first Newcombe medal that night.
Since then, their relationship has gone from strength to strength. While Barty rarely opens up about her partner, she recently revealed to Vogue Australia that Kissick is the ultimate support for her, despite their careers being vastly different.
“He’s extremely patient with me, and when we met he didn’t know a lot about tennis,” she explained.
“He’s kind of been thrown in the very deep end in understanding what the tour is like and how much we’re apart… he’s the best person to have around in the sense of switching off from tennis and being able to bring the fun and laughter when we are training and not be so serious all the time.”
Of course, the couple have also had to endure some long distance stints whenever Kissick is unable to travel with Barty to her various tennis tournaments, though they’ve no doubt come out stronger for it—as Instagram suggests.
In April 2021, Kissick posted a throwback photo of the tennis pro with their three dogs, writing: “Happy Birthday to the No.1 dog mum @ashbarty We all miss you but the puppies do enjoy the relaxed house rules while you’re away.”
Ash Barty and Gary Kissick’s engagement
In November 2021, Barty and Kissick announced their relationship to the world via Instagram, with Kissick sharing a sweet photo and writing: “15/11/2021 💍 I love you @ashbarty ❤”
Barty also shared a snap to her own Instagram, writing: “Future Husband 💍❤️. “
While the pair are yet to divulge any extra details about their wedding, there’s no doubt Barty will have plenty of milestones to celebrate in the years ahead—both on and off the court.
Ash Barty and Gary Kissick’s wedding
The lovebirds finally wed in a very private ceremony in Queensland, with news remaining hush for several weeks.
According to reports, their wedding was attended by fellow Australian tennis stars Pat Rafter, Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik.
Ash announced the news by sharing a photo to Instagram with the simple caption, “Husband & Wife”.
She wore a stunning Suzanne Harward-designed dress, while Garry went for a classic black tux.
Congrats to the happy couple!
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