The 26-year-old’s new figure was impossible to miss, despite the casual, baggy hoodie she was wearing as she helped launch the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival (NITC) in Newcastle on Thursday.

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Barty in January announced she is about to become a mum.

The retired three-time grand slam winner posted on Instagram at the time that she and her husband Garry Kissick are expecting their first child.

Their exciting news is growing before our eyes.

The former world number one was the star attraction as more than 140 Indigenous kids from the Hunter region were invited along to play some tennis and take part in cultural activities.

Barty — a proud Ngarigo woman — was active throughout the session and showed it takes more than a baby bump to slow her down.

It’s been over a year since Barty won the Australian Open and then stunned the world with a retirement that caught everyone off guard, but she says she has no plans to return to the sport with other things on the horizon.

“I’ve said this time and time again, two cracks at tennis were more than enough,” she said.

“I’m absolutely fulfilled, happy and content. I do have different things and different dreams and different ways that I’d love to contribute to community sport. My athletic days are over.”

She has enough on her hands.

Barty last year married her long-time partner Kissick, released children’s books, an autobiography and seemingly enjoyed life including several golf trips around the world.

She also capped off the year winning the Newcombe Medal as Australia best tennis player and Sport Australia’s The Don Award.

The Don is awarded to the athlete or team whose achievements have most inspired the nation.

Her involvement in the NITC is another passion project.

The Newcastle opportunity was one of several regional lead-in events before the NITC takes place in Darwin from August 10-13.

Thursday’s event was an incredible moment for the kids who may never have played tennis before but will be inspired to stick at it after meeting the three-time grand slam champion who wants to be a role model for First Nations people.

“It’s incredible (to see so many First Nations youth trying tennis for the first time),” she said.

“This is what it’s all about, it’s about trying things for the first time, it’s all about participating, coming and trying tennis, learning new and different things, and bringing people together is a bonus.

“I’ve had different role models throughout my whole life, starting with my mum and my sisters, and then professionally it kind of adapted and evolved into Evonne Goolagong Cawley and Cathy Freeman as well.

“They’re both exceptional humans and great role models in a sense of what they did in their field on the track and on the court, but also their contributions after they retired.

“It’s something I’d love to emulate and I’d love to continue to contribute in different ways and to continue to evolve my role and to continue to give back to kids.”

Tennis Australia’s First Nations lead Kyah Jones said the children would gain a lot from meeting Barty, with the NITC to also hold events in Cairns, Toowoomba, Perth and other regions in the coming weeks.

“We have over 100 participants here today. They’ll get to try tennis and also some cultural activities off court, so a combination which is a great opportunity for these young Aboriginal kids,” she said.

“It’s incredible to have that many kids here today. Some of them have never picked up a racquet, and some have played, but it’s a really great experience. With Ash here, it’s really exciting and everyone is pumped to be out on court.

“What an amazing role model Ash is to all Indigenous kids. She’s an incredible person – not only for tennis people – but for everyone across the world.”