Former Wimbledon champion, 29, resurfaces in viral ad with Rafael Nadal three years after bombshell retirement
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A FORMER Wimbledon champion resurfaced in a viral ad alongside Rafael Nadal.
The Australian superstar was the No1 tennis player in the world and reigned at the All England Club in 2021.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
7
Ash Barty features in the new Kia advert
Credit: YouTube/Kia Australia
7
Rafael Nadal makes a brilliant cameo as a roofer
Credit: YouTube/Kia Australia
7
Barty achieved her career dream by winning Wimbledon in 2021
Credit: Getty
She then followed it up by winning her home Grand Slam in January 2022.
But Ash Barty, 29, stunned the sporting world when she suddenly retired from tennis two months later at the top of the game.
She has kept a low profile since, getting married to golfer Garry Kissick and welcoming the second of her two children last week, a daughter called Jordan.
Now, though, after three years out of the public spotlight, Barty made a shock comeback.
READ MORE TENNIS NEWS
FAN FRIGHT Spectator treated for injuries as panel falls from above during Zverev clash
She stars in a hilarious 90-second commercial for car manufacturer Kia to promote their new pick-up truck, the Kia Tasman.
Barty plays the role of Tasman Town's newest resident after buying a fixer-upper crumbling old house in the countryside.
She then calls in a load of 'tradies' to get the pad in shape - with Australian sporting heroes including Erin Phillips, Peter Daicos, Dane Swan, Jason Gillespie, Buddy Franklin, Alexander Volkanovski, Dylan Alcott and Pat Rafter all arriving on site in their Kia Tasmans.
Two-time Wimbledon finalist Rafter - naturally - is in charge of the turf with his company 'Best On Grass'.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
But when they spot the roof is in need of repairs, recently-retired Nadal is called in, having been sponsored by Kia for many years.
And the Spaniard - dubbed Rafa's Roofs - hilariously picked up the video call on his phone and left Australians in stitches with his cameo and response.
Carlos Alcaraz parties in Ibiza following French Open triumph
Tennis stars' new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best… I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
I'm last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I'm singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
I'm former world No1 but quit aged 29 - instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
He said: "I am flat out."
Then leaning in towards the camera, he asked: "Is it a cashie?" - Aussie slang for an under-the-table cash-in-hand job.
Like Nadal, Barty won the French Open - albeit just the once in 2019.
That came just two years after she returned to tennis' majors following a two-year absence from the biggest tournaments as she took a break from the sport - and even played semi-pro cricket.
Since hanging up her racquet for good, the Queensland queen has even played in pro golf tournaments as well as having her two children.
Barty was a pundit for the BBC at Wimbledon last year and proved a popular addition - but the timing of Jordan's recent arrival may rule her out of 2025's tournament.
7
Barty retired from tennis three years ago
Credit: YouTube/Kia Australia
7
In the commercial she buys a fixer-upper house
Credit: YouTube/Kia Australia
7
The tradies arrive in their new Kia Tasman trucks
Credit: YouTube/Kia Australia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
34 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Katie Boulter wins Battle of the Brits but says Sonay Kartal is the future
Katie Boulter overcame Sonay Kartal in a close-fought Battle of the Brits at the Nottingham Open but believes her rival will soon surpass her in the rankings. In searing 28C heat, Boulter fought back to close out the 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory in a match spanning two hours and 26 minutes and kept alive her hopes of a third successive title in the East Midlands. 'I know she's going to surpass me at some point,' Boulter said of Kartal. 'I mean, she's got the game for it, she's got the head for it. So at some point it's going to come and I'm going to have to face that fact. 'I genuinely think she's got an incredible attitude, she works extremely hard and the way that she plays, she's so consistent and she can disrupt your rhythm.' It seems inconceivable that at the start of the 2024 grass-court season, before Boulter won her second successive title at Nottingham, Kartal was ranked 271 in the world, she is no in the top 50. 'It's something she has said to me for a while that she believes I'll go pretty far,' she said when asked about Boulter's comments on her potential. For Boulter, who lost her British No. 1 title to Emma Raducanu at Queen's first professional women's event for 52 years last week, Nottingham was always going to be important in the build-up to Wimbledon. The match itself mirrored Boulter's two at Queen's where she came out firing in the first set, faltered in the second and then had to come back in the decider – albeit she lost to Diana Shnaider in the second round in west London. In the opening set here, the pair held serve while not to break until Kartal was guilty of one too many unforced errors. As those mistakes built up, including two tame backhands straight into the net, Boulter was able to capitalise, winning the crucial break of serve to take the opener. But at 4-3 behind and 30-0 down in the decider, the home favourite had to find a new level to come back and get the set back on serve. Boulter holding her back at one point and taking painkillers at 2-1 up in the third, she later acknowledged at not being 100 percent during the encounter. The entire match hinged on two service games in the decider, with Kartal serving to stay in the match at 5-4 behind. Boulter squandered two match points before banging her racket on the ground as Kartal held. Two games later, the British No 2 took her chance to win the match. Born in Leicestershire, Boulter stays at her mother's house during the tournament and described the Nottingham centre court as feeling like 'home', although she admitted struggling in the heat. When the US Open doubles draw list came out, matching up Emma Raducanu with Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper teaming up with last year's Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng, there was the notable absence of Boulter and fiance Alex de Minaur. 'I actually panicked when I came off court the other day and the list was out,' Boulter explains before adding that she entered herself and De Minaur in the new-look doubles competition as soon as she could, although the pair are still waiting for confirmation, with the final entry list closing on July 28.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
EastEnders to air double bills as soap faces another major schedule shake-up
EastEnders fans have dealt with a number of schedule changes over the past few weeks - and things are about to change once again - with fans set for double bills of the BBC soap It's been a dramatic few weeks in EastEnders with shock returns, a new executive producer, and huge schedule changes. However, it looks like things aren't set to calm down anytime soon. Last week, for Kat and Alfie's wedding, the soap moved it's scheduling from Tuesday - Friday due to the football. This Monday, fans were unable to sit down and watch EastEnders with their morning cuppa. The soap delayed it's usual 6am iPlayer release for Ben Wadey's first episode - in which Zoe Slater made her shock return. Fans will be happy to know that the soap will resume to it's normal Monday - Thursday schedule next week, with episodes dropping at 6am on iPlayer. However, the week after that will see a huge schedule shakeup due to Wimbledon coverage. For the first time in a while, the soap will air a double bill on Monday June 30 and Tuesday July 1, meaning fans will get their two hour fix of EastEnders over two days. On Monday June 30, the BBC soap will begin at the earlier time of 7pm, airing back to back episodes. The second episode of the day will air straight after, meaning things will wrap up at 8pm. It will be the exact same schedule on Tuesday (July 1) with the soap airing a double bill from 7pm - 8pm. That's not the only major change though, as the soap will be airing on BBC Two for those two days as BBC One will be airing coverage from the first two days of Wimbledon. The soap will be off air on Wednesday and Thursday - with the next episodes airing the following week. Spoilers have revealed a huge week before the double bills, with the Kat and Alfie drama continuing. Kat continues to worry about how things are between them and she soon confides in someone about their lack of communication. Elsewhere, she soon makes an alarming discovery about her ex Phil Mitchell. Phil's worried about Nigel deteriorating amid his dementia diagnosis, and some of his actions next week leave Phil struggling. He then ends up injured when he and Nigel grapple over a pan of boiling water, as Kat suggests he gets some extra support to care for Nigel. She's not the only one, as ex-Denise also tells him he needs to look after himself. Phil isn't the only one sparking concern however, as Elaine Peacock is also sparking concern as she struggles after her split from George Knight.
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Katie Boulter survives Sonay Kartal scare to keep Nottingham Open hopes alive
Boulter, who was replaced this week as British number one by Emma Raducanu, won her maiden WTA Tour title in Nottingham two years ago and backed it up last summer. And she extended her winning run in the city to 12 matches with a 6-4 1-6 7-5 victory over British number three Kartal. Boulter trailed 4-2 in the deciding set and had to save a break point to avoid going a double break behind, with the eighth seed struggling in the heat and consulting the doctor. But she rallied impressively to make it through to a quarter-final against American McCartney Kessler. 'I have so much respect for Sonay, she is such a tough competitor and I also know she's never going to give me anything at any point,' said Boulter on the BBC. 'I know she's going to surpass me at some point, she's got the game for it, she's got the head for it. I'm going to have to face that fact. 'But at the very end I just wanted to grit my teeth as hard as I possibly could and get myself over the line. I'm really pleased with myself today. It wasn't easy, for sure. 🤯 @katiecboulter wins a rollercoaster match over Sonay Kartal to make the Lexus Nottingham Open quarter-finals! #BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 | @WTA — LTA (@the_LTA) June 19, 2025 'I feel like I step into my house when I come onto this court. I have such great vibes here but the heat was killing me today. 'I am definitely proper British because I can't handle the heat at all. I'm just glad I got over the line.' Boulter looked very comfortable on serve all through the opening set but Kartal took control at the start of the second set, winning five games in a row. The 23-year-old appeared to be heading for victory midway through the decider, with Boulter looking spent, but she roused herself and put aside the disappointment of missing two match points at 5-4, clinching victory two games later. Boulter is the only British player left in the draw after teenager Mimi Xu lost 7-5 6-1 to sixth seed Magda Linette. The 17-year-old, who will make her Wimbledon debut later this month after being given a wild card, won her first WTA Tour match in the first round before sitting an A level biology exam on Wednesday. She pushed Linette, ranked 31st in the world, very hard in the opening set but the Pole used her experience to come through a series of close games in the second.
