Ashleigh Barty says what the Australian Open trophy means to her

Story byPhoto by Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesMax KilhamTue, January 13, 2026 at 2:30 AM UTC·2 min readBefore her shock retirement in 2022, Ashleigh Barty was the best player on the WTA Tour. Barty, a three-time major champion, stunned tennis fans in 2022 by announcing her immediate retirement two months after winning the Australian Open for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementShe remains one of Australia’s greatest-ever players; an icon of Australian sport who became the second Australian woman to achieve this historic milestone following Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976. When she won her final major title in 2022, Barty became the first Australian woman to win the Australian Open for 44 years. Photo by AARON FRANCIS/She recently spoke about this success, noting the importance of the Australian Open trophy. Ashleigh Barty says the Australian Open trophy represents a ‘typical Aussie battler’The Australian Open trophy was first named the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup in 1934, a year after Daphne Akhurst’s passing. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAkhurst was a five-time Australian Open Women’s Singles champion between 1925 and 1930. Almost 96 years after Akhurst’s last title, Ashleigh Barty has spoken about the importance of Akhurst and the Australian Open trophy/Barty told the Australian Open: “The excitement in the [Rod Laver] Arena, it’s electric. It’s the final moment of the tournament; it’s a celebration for the players, the tournament organisers, the fans that are there and you have this beautiful Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup sitting right there. Photo by Daniel Pockett/“It’s a bit of a tease as well to know that this is something that you’re playing for.“When you think of Daphne Akhurst, you think of someone who is humble and so well-loved. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“What this cup represents to me is it’s typical Aussie battler. The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is more than just a trophy; I think it holds a deeper place in your heart.”Ashleigh Barty’s first Australian Open matchAt the 2012 Australian Open, Ashleigh Barty was handed a wildcard to compete in her first-ever Australian Open match. Remarkably, Barty was only 15 years old when she made her debut in Melbourne. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty ImagesThe Australian youngster fought hard, but was unable to overcome Georgia’s Anna Tatishvilli in the first round.