Ash Barty and husband Garry Kissick are expecting their first child together

Ash Barty and husband Garry Kissick are expecting their first child together.

The 26-year-old tennis champion announced the happy news on Instagram Friday night by sharing a photo of her border collie sitting next to a pair of baby shoes.

“2023 should be the best year so far. We are so excited for our new adventure,” she captioned the post.

Ash Barty and husband Garry Kissick are expecting their first child together. The couple is pictured together

Many of Barty’s famous friends from the sports world left congratulatory comments, including runner Nedd Brockmann and tennis players Johanna Konta and Priscilla Hon.

The official accounts of the Australian Open, Tennis Australia and the Women’s Tennis Association also commented on the post.

Barty married longtime boyfriend Garry Kissick in a private ceremony at an undisclosed location in Queensland in July last year.

The guest list at their wedding included a handful of other tennis stars, including Pat Rafter, Casey Dellacqua and Alicia Molik.

The 26-year-old tennis champion announced the happy news on Instagram Friday night by sharing a photo of her border collie sitting next to a pair of baby shoes

The Australian tennis star met her husband during a round of golf at Brooklands Golf Club in Queensland in 2016 and they have been together ever since.

Mr. Kissick works at the golf club and Barty is also a talent in the sport.

Despite being one of the best tennis players in the world, Barty offers little insight into her world away from the sport – which she retired from last year at the age of 26.

Known for notoriously keeping her personal life and relationship private, she opened up about Mr Kissick in an interview with Vogue.

“He’s very patient with me and when we met he didn’t know much about tennis,” said the 26-year-old.

Mr. Kissick was always by Barty’s side throughout her stellar tennis career

“He’s kind of been thrown into the deepest hole to understand what the Tour is like and how separated we are… [But] He is the best person to have around to unwind from tennis and bring fun and laughter.

“I certainly wouldn’t want to share this journey with anyone else.”

Mr Kissick had been by Barty’s side throughout her tennis career and was one of the first people to hug her after winning Wimbledon.

The three-time Grand Slam champion stunned the world when she announced last March that she was retiring from tennis.

Since then, the couple have poured their energies into building their multi-million dollar dream home in Ipswich, southwest of Brisbane.

The new home is Barty’s third, with the athlete owning properties in neighboring Springfield Lakes and Augustine Heights.

The Australian tennis star met her husband during a round of golf at Brooklands Golf Club in Queensland in 2016 and they have been together ever since