I was privileged in 2011 to be at the scene of first Wimbledon victories for both Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova. And also for the Junior Wimbledon singles triumph of 15 year old Ashleigh Barty.
Little did I appreciate what was to develop over the next decade.
Her doubles success, first with fellow Australian and close friend Casey Dellacqua - 2013 finalists at three of the four majors - and the first five of her twelve titles.
Later the first Grand Slam title - the 2017 US Open Womens Doubles with American CoCo Vandeweghe.
Then of course the singles.
Ash returned to tennis in 2016, after a self imposed hiatus, and I was at Melbourne Park in 2017 when she won her first matches at an Australian Open - Ash made the third round. The attempt to win her home major has since been:
2018 - 3rd round, 2019 - quarter final, 2020 - semi final, 2021 - quarter final, and finally this year the big prize.
2017 saw Ash win her first WTA singles title - in Malaysia. Two other losing finals in the year which finished with Ash ranked 17, after starting 272.
2018 - two titles, year ending ranked 15.
2019 the Roland Garros victory - first major, coming on top of the Miami Open - a Premier Mandatory tournament. Then the Birmingham trophy. Three wins on three different surfaces.
To finish the year, Ash cleaned up in the WTA Finals, and finished #1.
2020, amid COVID, Ash stayed home after collecting the Adelaide International trophy, but remained #1 at the end of the year thanks to her swag of points collected in 2019.
Electing to spend 2021 overseas, the year was sensational on court for Ash. Before flying out, the Yarra Valley Classic was put away in the cabinet, and another quarter final appearance was made at the Australian Open.
Homesickness aside, Ash won her second Miami Open on hardcourt, followed up with a win in Stuttgart on clay, was a finalist in Madrid, also on clay, and then Wimbledon was hers - a second major, and her most prized.
Cincinnati was her third WTA 1000 tournament win for the year, which again saw her finish as world #1.
2022 began with a win in the Adelaide International, singles and doubles, and Ash Barty, unbeknown to us all, finished her career by defeating Danielle Collins in the Australian Open final. The first Australian woman since 1978 to lift the AO singles trophy.
A fabulous, if a relatively short career has been enjoyed by everyone, not just because of the excellence in tennis displayed by Ash Barty, but in the manner she delivered it. Her goal was to enjoy time on court, and her approach was welcomed by all involved in the sport, including her opponents.
A big hole has been left, but a significant positive legacy endures.
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