“I think it’s important I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete,” Barty said during her retirement in March 2022. Four months later, Barty revealed her marriage to Garry Kissick in an IG post, saying, “Husband & Wife.” The couple met each other in 2016 and got engaged on November 15, 2021. They welcomed their son Hayden in early July 2023. Now, the couple is set to expand their family further. On Wednesday, the Aussie star, Ashleigh Barty, announced that she is pregnant with her second child. Today, we are shining the spotlight on Barty’s husband, who is involved in a different sporting realm. 

According to Kissick’s LinkedIn profile, he attended Ipswich Grammar School in Queensland until 2007 and then took a 3-year court in applied horticulture at Brisbane North Institute of Tafe. Currently residing with Barty in Brisbane, Kissick began his golf career in 2005 at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club in Brisbane, starting at the pro shop. He later transitioned to roles involving greenskeeping and irrigation, utilizing his horticulture background. In 2018, he embarked on his professional golf journey by becoming a PGA Trainee Professional at the club. So, that’s how golf has now got involved with their lives.

On Christmas Day yesterday, Ashleigh Barty and Garry Kissick shared a post on her IG, and in that post, Hayden was spotted standing in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas Tree, wearing a T-shirt that had, “I am going to be a BIG BROTHER,” written on it. Ashleigh Barty captioned that post with, “Merry Christmas from our growing family to yours!“

Both Barty and Kissick share a common love for a lot of things. Take, for example, the couple are dog lovers! They have two Maltese shih tzus and a Border collie. Ashleigh Barty often shares pictures of these family members on her social media. Apart from that, both of them love traveling together. 

Do they share a common love for the racquet sport too?

“He didn’t know a lot about tennis” – Ashleigh Barty of her husband

Garry Kissick is an avid athlete! However, tennis was never in the top spot of his priority list. In fact, Ashleigh Barty claimed that he didn’t follow tennis before meeting her.

In a previous interview with Vogue, Barty revealed, “When we met he didn’t know a lot about tennis. He’s kind of been thrown in the very deep end in understanding what the tour is like and how much we’re apart … [But] 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.” 

While Kissick has undoubtedly learned a lot about tennis since meeting Barty, she also wholeheartedly supports his passion for golf. They frequently enjoy rounds together, both at home and during their travels. “Amazing weekend playing a little golf at Barnbougle. Stunning courses, perfect weather for a little getaway and lucky enough to run into a couple of Aussie legends! Thank you for looking after us @barnbougle!!” Barty wrote after hitting the links with her husband in Tasmania six years ago.

Although Kissick was never a big fan of tennis, he was the biggest fan of Ashleigh Barty. He was often spotted at her matches during the Tour. Kissick even supported her a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite knowing it’d require him to quarantine with Ashleigh Barty for two weeks upon his return to Australia.

Reflecting on that experience, Ashleigh Barty once revealed, “It’s a test of your relationship, being with each other for two weeks straight…Some days it was good where we had each other.” 

And when Barty won the Wimbledon Championships in 2021, he wrote, “So grateful to be a part of your journey so far and proud of everything you’ve achieved here at Wimbledon. Living out your dreams!” on his IG account. Share your thoughts on this sports-loving couple.