Barty (2022 Edition)

It doesn’t get any better than this. Ash Barty, the greatest Australian tennis player of the modern era, rewrote history by winning the 2022 Australian Open and becoming the first Australian woman to do so since 1978. The Barty Party has moved at an incredible speed since the laid-back Queenslander first broke through as a genuine world-beater by winning her first major tournament, the French Open, in May 2019, quickly followed by her ascension to the World No. 1 ranking, and then the most hallowed tournament of all on the lawns of London at Wimbledon in July 2021.

This book covers her journey from knockabout kid from Queensland to world champion and explores her rare gift for the game, engaging personality, innate modesty and relentless determination to be the best. Barty’s mantra is that being a good human being is far more important than being a good tennis player, and it has been widely hailed as a lesson for all. In other words, she now transcends sport. Her unfolding, unfinished narrative has come to resonate with overtones of national pride and inspiration, community morale, cultural issues ancient and modern, the importance of family and friends, the regard for humility and grace over rampant ambition, the escalating battle for gender equality, and perspectives on fame and fortune.

In this new edition of the top seller, award-winning sports writer Ron Reed and journalist Chris McLeod pay tribute to the World No. 1 covering all her games and unforgettable moments.

About the Authors

Ron Reed’s 50-plus years in sports journalism include decades as a columnist and feature writer for Australia’s biggest-selling daily newspaper, the Herald Sun, as well as two stints as Sports Editor of that paper’s predecessor, The Herald, and one as Editor of the old Sporting Globe. His work has earned many awards and accolades, including Australian sportswriter of the year and a lifetime achievement award from Sport Australia, formerly the Australian Sports Commission. He has covered most of the world’s major sports events – many of them multiple times – in more than 30 countries, and is a tennis aficionado, having been a fixture at the Australian Open as well as many Davis Cup ties. He is the author of the only book ever written about the legendary Frank Sedgman, Game Sedge and Match, Barty: Power and Glory, and War Games.

Chris McLeod is a former newspaper journalist and executive. He is an author and researcher for floggerblogger.com with an interest in sport, transport and mystery. His bookazines include World’s Best Golf Courses, World’s Best Trains, Elite Special Forces and Unsolved – terror crimes and accidents.