Ash Barty and husband Garry Kissick announce second pregnancy on Christmas Day

Former Australian tennis superstar Ash Barty has announced she is expecting her second child.

The three-time grand slam champion and her husband Garry Kissick dropped the major family news with a typically nonchalant Instagram post late on Christmas Day.

The photo starred the couple’s son, Hayden, facing their Christmas tree, wearing a t-shirt which reads “I am going to be a big brother” on the back.

“Merry Christmas from our growing family to yours!” the post’s caption says.

Hayden was born less than 18 months ago, in July 2023.

Barty and Kissick’s joint post on Wednesday was immediately flooded with hundreds of comments and thousands of likes.

“Ahhh congratulations! The most wonderful news,” former Olympic swimmer Libby Trickett said.

“Omg congrats guys,” star Aussie golfer Hannah Green added.

Cricketer Chris Lynn and surfer Stephanie Gilmore were among the hundreds of others to comment.

The 2022 Australian Open champion retired from tennis two months after winning her first and only home slam, which ended Australia’s 44-year singles title drought in Melbourne.

Since retiring, Barty and Kissick tied the knot in a secret tropical wedding, while she also released her autobiography and a children’s book series inspired by her niece.

The news comes just weeks after Barty was quietly let go by telecommunications giant Optus after two years in an ambassador role.

Barty signed with the company in August 2022, in a newly created role as chief of inspiration.

But two years on, Barty’s deal with the company has been ended.

Fellow Australian sports star Daniel Ricciardo was also let go in his role of chief of optimism, a position he has held since November 2000.