26 March 2019 | Tennis Queensland
![WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Ashleigh Barty of Australia celebrates a point in her match against Lesley Kerkhove of the Netherlands during the World Group Play-Off Fed Cup tie between Australia and the Netherlands at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre on April 22, 2018 in Wollongong, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)](https://www.tennis.com.au/qld/files/2019/03/GettyImages-949802100-700x450.jpg)
A free bus will depart from Ipswich and Springfield to take Ash Barty fans to Australia’s Fed Cup semifinal tie over the Easter weekend.
Barty, who is about to break into the world’s top 10, will lead the Australian team against Belarus on April 20 and April 21 at Pat Rafter Arena.
The Ipswich City Council and Tennis Queensland will co-host the Barty Bus as fans practice their Aussie chants along the route.
Barty says the Fed Cup is an exciting event.
“Getting to play in Brisbane is amazing, for me this is my backyard, it’s unreal,” she said.
“I’m hoping we can have a lot of fans and kids from Ipswich in the crowd supporting the Aussie team on Easter weekend. We would love to have an absolutely packed Pat Rafter Arena, it’s a beautiful court, especially at that time of the year.
“Thanks to the Ipswich City Council and Tennis Queensland for organising a free bus from Ipswich to the tennis. Hopefully this makes it easy for our local fans to come and support us,” Barty said.
Ipswich City Council CEO, David Farmer said Ash already had keys to the city, and they couldn’t be in safer hands.
“Ipswich has every right to be proud of Ash as she wins her way into the world’s top 10 players,” Mr Farmer said.
“The Barty bus is an opportunity for locals to express their pride when Ash hopefully leads Australia’s charge into the Fed Cup final.”
“The Barty Bus is an opportunity for locals to express their pride when Ash hopefully leads Australia’s charge into the Fed Cup final.”
Seats on the Barty Bus will be free to anybody who secures a ticket to the Fed Cup semi final on April 20 and/or 21.
Tickets can be bought from Ticketek and bus seats can be secured by emailing [email protected]
The bus will leave from the Visitor Information Centre at Queens Park at 10.30am on each day and from the Springfield Community Office on the corner of Commercial Drive and Woodcrest Way at 10.50am.