By Alberto Amalfi | Monday, December 12, 2022
Retirement can't slow Ash Barty's winning roll.
Reigning Australian Open champion Barty was awarded with her record fifth Newcombe Medal presented by Hall of Famer John Newcombe at the Crown Casino in Melbourne on Monday.
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Former world No. 1 Barty, who retired shortly after capturing her third Grand Slam crown at the 2022 Australian Open, is the first player to earn five Newcombe Medals. A year ago, she shared the honor with Dylan Alcott.
The Newcombe Medal is awarded annually to Australia’s most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador for the sport.
The award is named in honor of Aussie legend and former world No. 1 John Newcombe.
Barty was recognized for her outstanding Australian summer, where she became the first Australian to win an Australian Open women’s singles title in 44 years.
World No. 1 Barty battled back from a 1-5 second-set lead defeating Danielle Collins 6-3, 7-6(2) in the Australian Open final becoming the first Aussie—man or woman—to capture the AO singles championship since Chris O’Neil in 1978.
Watching from the front row, O’Neil stood and issued a thumbs up to Barty welcoming her to the AO champions club and unleashing a national Barty Party celebrating the 100th edition of the Australian Open women's tournament home style.
It was a dominant display of homecoming celebration from Barty, who conceded just 30 games in seven tournament victories to wn the AO before announcing her abrupt retirement last March.
“This has obviously been a very big year in my career and in my life,” said Barty, who went undefeated in 15 singles and doubles matches in January, in comments published by Tennis Australia.
“We’ve had exceptional change, we’ve had an amazing year of celebrating a journey of not only myself, but my team, and there is so much to be proud of. I stand here very proudly knowing that I absolutely fulfilled every ounce that I could to this beautiful sport that brought me so much more than I could have ever dreamt.
“There are so many people behind the scenes that help me and allowed me to live out my dream and to discover what it felt like to work hard and really chase after something you love.”
Photo credit: Getty