Ash Barty baffled by boyfriend question in Wimbledon presser
World No.1 Ash Barty was left slightly perplexed by a question about her boyfriend soon after winning through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The Australian fan favourite was able to reunite with partner Garry Kissick at Wimbledon after the pair spent months apart while Barty competed in the French Open and other European tournaments following the Australian Open in February.
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Barty booked her spot in the Wimbledon quarter-finals by defeating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in straight sets.
Elated after the win, the usually reserved Barty let out a triumphant 'yeah baby!' after winning the final point.
She'll face fellow Australian competitor Ajla Tomljanovic in the first all-Australian quarter-final at the All England club since Evonne Goolagong faced Wendy Turnbull in 1980.
In the midst of questions about her tournament so far, it was mention of Kissick that prompted a quizzical look and response from Barty.
"You’re looking more relaxed — Garry’s here," a reporter stated, before asking what effect Kissick's presence in her camp had taken after spending months on the road with coach Craig Tyzzer.
Barty appeared mildly baffled at the mention of her partner.
“It was always the plan to have Garry over here for this part of the trip,” Barty said.
“Like he usually does, he usually tries to come to the UK. So, I don’t really know what to say about that.
“In the sense of being in the quarters, I’m happy, I’m excited. It’s another stepping stone for me, another first I suppose. It’s going to be a new situation, a new scenario and one I’m going to look forward to.
"I’m going to enjoy it no matter what and it’s a stepping stone to what is one of my biggest dreams and we’ll just keep chipping away.”
Barty is hoping to become the first Australian woman since Goolagong to win at Wimbledon, styling her outfit for this year's tournament based on her predecessor's own winning design.
Ajla, Ash set up Aussie day at Wimbledon
World No.1 Barty, as expected, lived up to her No.1 seeding by defeating French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-3 on No.1 court on Monday.
Later in the evening, Tomljanovic also prevailed on the same showcourt, putting on a professional display against British teenager star Emma Raducanu to lead 6-3 3-0 before the youngster earned her sympathy - and an entire nation's - by having to withdraw with a breathing problem.
It left the two top players in women's tennis in Australia, both based in Queensland, to play each other for the very first time, even though they've been friends and trained plenty of times together.
Their victories meant that Australian tennis will be able to enjoy on Thursday the sight of their first women's semi-finalist at Wimbledon since 2000 when Jelena Dokic lost to American Lindsay Davenport.
But there'll have to be a quick turnaround for the pair who will meet on Centre Court in the last-eight on Tuesday, which on the face of it would appear a disadvantage for Tomljanovic, whose late match only finished at 9.15pm, nearly seven hours later than Barty's.
The prospect of the big match left both of them thrilled.
"I'm just happy to share the court with Ash tomorrow. I always talk so highly of her because it's really what I think," said Tomljanovic, who has reached her first-ever grand slam quarter after a decade on the circuit
"Tomorrow, I know I'm going to have to bring everything I've got to potentially win.
"And just the whole surroundings of the Centre Court, I think it's going to be special no matter what.
"When I hear about history with other players (like the Goolgong-Turnbull semi-final), I always think it's really cool. I've just never been in a position to be part of it. When I look back I'll be in that small group."
Barty too was excited. "Obviously, it's incredible for Aussie tennis. I was pumped to see Ajla through to the second week here for her first time at Wimbledon."
With AAP
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