Pregnant tennis icon Ash Barty is spotted with a baby bump for the first time while walking her dogs

Retired tennis great Ash Barty has debuted her baby bump while walking her dogs just days after thrilling sports fans everywhere with the news that she is expecting her first child with husband Garry Kissick.

The 26-year-old Grand Slam champion was spotted walking her border collie Origi and two of her other pets near her Brisbane home on Thursday and had a blossoming belly following her big announcement last week.

Origi took center stage in the post that broke the news, posing next to a pair of baby shoes, accompanied by Barty’s caption: “2023 will be the best year yet. We are really looking forward to our new adventure. Origi already the protective big sister.’

Barty showed the telltale sign that she’s a mother-to-be while walking her pets near her Brisbane home on Thursday

The Wimbledon, French and Australian Open champion took Origi to exercise after the border collie appeared on the social media post announcing her pregnancy news

There was speculation that Barty made her shocking decision to quit tennis last March because she had a baby on the way, but that proved way off the mark by a few months.

The baby news was greeted with delight by her friends in the sports world, including runner Nedd Brockmann and tennis stars Johanna Konta and Priscilla Hon.

The Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open winner met Kissick during a round on the links at Brooklands Golf Club in Queensland in 2016 and they have been together ever since.

The couple announced their engagement in November 2021 and wed in July last year in a secret, intimate ceremony attended only by their immediate family.

Barty has previously opened up about how her home is “run by dogs” when discussing why she was pushed to adopt her pets – which she calls “the wolf pack” – by the RSPCA

“Origi is already the protective big sister,” Barty wrote in the social media post, announcing her heartwarming baby news to the world

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 Kissick in an interview with Vogue.

“He’s very patient with me and when we met he didn’t know much about tennis,” she said.

“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.

Tennis star and husband Garry Kissick (pictured together at the Newcombe medals ceremony in Melbourne last month) wed in July last year

“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 in 2021.

She has opened up about her love of adopting dogs, with her and Kissick calling their pets “the wolf pack.”

“Our house is run by dogs,” she told Sports Illustrated in 2021.

‘Garry got Origi, a border collie, last year. She is beautiful. Maxi and Rudi live with mum and dad just around the corner. Coming home and cuddling my dogs on the couch is one of the loveliest things for me.

“RSPCA Queensland Animal Shelter is not far from my home and when I first visited I knew I wanted to help. To see someone mistreating animals is very difficult for me to take.”