Australian tennis legend Ash Barty has married her long-time partner Garry Kissick in a private and intimate ceremony in front of close family and friends.
The former No.1 and her golfing boyfriend shared their vowels at a secret venue in Queensland earlier this month after she returned from a trip to the British Open.
Guests who attended the beautiful day included fellow great Pat Rafter, former doubles partner and friend Casey Dellacqua, ex-player Alicia Molik and junior coach Jim Joyce.
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Those who were lucky enough to be invited to the wedding were told by the notoriously private couple to avoid posting any photos to their social media.
Barty took to Instagram on Saturday night to announce the news she had tied the knot with Kissick, 31, with a loved-up photo of the newlyweds.
“Husband & Wife,” the 26-year-old captioned the sweet picture.
The down-to-earth Aussie looked stunning in a custom-made hater-neck style Suzanne Harward designed wedding gown with her hair tied back into a low bun.
Kissick appeared dapper dressed in a black tuxedo with a matching bow tie.
The lovebirds were all smiles as they gazed into one another’s eyes set to the backdrop of what appeared to be in a tropical location near the rainforest.
Tennis stars across the planet and Australian athletes flooded the comments section to share their congratulations to the new husband and wife.
“Yes, you two – congratulations,” former Australian wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott wrote on the post.
“Amazing!! Wishing you lots of love and happiness,” surfing pro Mick Fanning said.
“Congratulations. Happy and love forever,” former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden added.
While former number one Australian golfer Adam Scott simply commented on a love heart emoji.
Casey Dellacqua, Rennae Stubbs, Caroline Wozniacki, Julia Goerges, Kiki Bertens, Maddison Inglis, Caroline Garcia, Lizette Cabrera and Johanna Konta were some of the past and present tennis players who shared their well wishes.
Kissick proposed to Barty in November after she capped off a spectacular year on the court where she won Wimbledon and four other WTA titles.
The three-time Grand Slam champion met her now husband in 2016 at Brisbane’s Brookwater Golf Club where he has worked.
Barty, who is a keen golfer, was visiting to play a round on the greens when the pair immediately clicked and began dating.
Their relationship did not go public until she brought Kissick to the John Newcombe Awards, where she received Australia’s highest tennis honour, and rumors began to swirl she was officially off the market.
He has toured with Barty around the globe since her career suddenly exploded and while she steadily climbed to the top of the world’s rankings.
In March, the Aussie stunned the sporting world when she announced her retirement news only two months after she won the Australian Open.
The 25-year-old posted an emotional six-minute video of a sit-down interview with close friend and former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua, to reveal the news.
“There’s no right way or wrong way, this is perfect for me to share it with you to talk to you about it, with my team, my loved ones, that I will be retiring from tennis,” Barty emotionally said as she tried to hold back tears.
“It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, it’s hard to say but I’m so happy and I’m so ready.”
Barty believes she does not have the “physical drive” or the “emotional want” to continue the successful career since her tennis comeback in 2016.
The eleven cricketer turned tennis champion described being “physically spent” and felt it was time to “chase other dreams” she wants to conquer.
“I just know, I am spent, physically I have nothing more to give. That for me is success, I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis.
“I’m really happy with that. For me that is my success.”
She has been enjoying her time off spending more time with family, including her children she speaks fondly of, and friends.
The sports lover sparked suggestions she would make a return to the world stage through golf after she participated in the Icon Series and then later attended the British Open to watch Aussie Cameron Smith triumph.
“You guys just can’t accept that I don’t want to play professional sport anymore,” Barty told 101.9 The Fox while promoting her children’s book series.
“I love golf, it’s a hobby of mine. It will not be my profession, I have no intention of making it my profession but I hack around once a week if I can — and I play off four.
“There’s no need, there’s no desire for me to play professional sport, particularly golf. I love it as a walkaround with my girlfriends and friends but yeah, not for me.”
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