Brisbane International set to return to Aussie summer, Ash Barty, Pat Rafter announcement

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Queensland tennis champion Ash Barty has had her first official engagement, just months after giving birth to her first child, helping announce the return of a popular tennis event.

The three-time grand slam winner, alongside fellow tennis star Pat Rafter, on Friday helped Queensland Tourism and Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announce the return of the Brisbane International in 2024.

Retired tennis players Ash Barty and Pat Rafter launched the 2024 Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tertius PickardSource: News Corp Australia

Barty, 27, and husband Garry Kissick welcomed baby Hayden in July, following Barty’s retirement announcement in March.

She made the announcement on her Instagram account and provided an update on Saturday with a picture of her holding her sleeping bub.

“Outnumbered by the boys. Love every single minute,” she captioned the picture.

The last full-format Brisbane International was held in 2019. Karolína Pliskova won the women’s competition in 2020 shortly before the tournament was scrapped altogether during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tournament will feature 180 world-class players competing for a record $3.1m in prizemoney during the first week of Australia’s Summer of Tennis, from December 31 to January 7.

That’s up from 120 players in the old format, and there will be both singles and doubles competitions.

Barty gave birth to her first child in July. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tertius PickardSource: News Corp Australia
The tournament offers a record $3.1m in prizemoney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Tertius PickardSource: News Corp Australia

Tournament director Cam Pearson said the upcoming event would be “bigger and better than ever.”

“We know how much the players love playing the Brisbane International and starting the season in Queensland,” Mr Pearson said.

“Fans can look forward to eight days of high-quality international tennis, an expanded women’s draw, and 180 of the world’s best players competing for a big prize pool. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Previous Brisbane International champions include Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Kim Clijsters.

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