Aww, Ash Barty’s Old School Is Planning To Name A Hall After The World No. 1

Ash Barty

Ash Barty‘s former school, Woodcrest State College, is planning to name one of its school halls after the World #1 in women’s tennis.

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Barty is riding a career-high after she defeated Germany‘s Julia Görges in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5 in the Birmingham Classic final last night. She is the first Australian to win the title and only the second Australian woman to top the WTA rankings since her hero, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, achieved it 43 years ago in 1976. The absolute gun is also the first Australian overall to cop the #1 spot since Lleyton Hewitt was crowned the men’s #1 player in 2001.

Turns out, Barty is just aggressively good at everything she does.

“She was dux of year nine even though she was travelling the world and she also, through her [years] 10, 11 and 12, managed to get straight As and Bs,” dean Alfio Balsamo told the ABC

“[The teachers] all remember Ashleigh as a humble, down to earth student … didn’t want to be known as anything different, didn’t want to be sort of ‘out there’ even when she won junior Wimbledon.”

Barty won the girls’ singles title at the world’s oldest tennis tournament in 2011.

As for the naming of the Brisbane school’s hall, Balsamo said he’s already discussed its plans with Barty. Instead of going the obvious choice of the tennis courts, Balsamo said the school has settled on its hall because funnily enough, Barty didn’t actually play tennis at Woodcrest.

“She was more into all of the other sports … volleyball, basketball and soccer. She was just a naturally talented student.” 

Sounds about right. Barty is a former professional cricketer, once playing in the Big Bash League for the Brisbane Heat. 

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