Skip to Content
Mag

Red Dirt Kids

To ease you into the Australian tennis season—and the 2023 return of OnCourt—we present a preview of one of our favorite stories from our brand new issue, Racquet No. 21.

By Photos by Abigail Varney

1:37 PM EST on January 6, 2023

For this, our latest edition, we sent our resident Australian photographer Abigail Varney—who you may remember from such amazing features as "Big Nick Energy" from Racquet no. 16—to remote Groote Eylandt, off Australia's Northern Territory. Abigail tagged along with two charities, Racquets & Red Dust and Bush Fit Mob, to document the so-called "Barty Effect", as they promote tennis in Australia's indigenous communities. Check out the issue for more, including a great piece on her travels by Courtney Walsh. —The Editors 

RRD_finals4print-53 copy
RRD_finals4print-24 copy
RRD_finals4print-55 copy
RRD_finals4print-54 copy
RRD_finals4print-49 copy

“It’s incredible to see the talent that is out in these communities and the Aboriginal kids who are happy to give it a crack, have a go, to try. They just need the opportunity.”
—Ashleigh Barty"

RRD_finals4print-42 copy

Abigail Varney is a portrait and documentary photographer based in Melbourne. Her first book, Rough & Cut, has just been released by Trespasser Books.

This article was featured in Racquet Issue No. 21

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Racquet

Rafa Returns, in Four Parts

RAFA, a four-part documentary on the most reserved member of the Big Three, is out on Netflix. By director Zach Heinzerling, the series airs a side of Rafael Nadal that he rarely showed during his 24 years on the pro tour, but that many of us suspected, or hoped, was there all along. Racquet sat down with Heinzerling to talk about his unprecedented access, and how he was able to tease out the Rafa we now find on the screen.

May 29, 2026

ACE: Form and Function of Tennis Wear

In her new book, ACE: the times & style of tennis, creative director Sunita Kumar Nair delves into the history of tennis clothing, and what makes the court a de facto runway.

May 28, 2026

My Love-Hate Relationship with the French (Open)

There is a simple explanation for why Roland-Garros has so often decided to go its own way: because France thinks it is the best at everything. 

May 22, 2026

Rafael Jódar Isn’t Waiting for Anyone

Sinner and Alcaraz have split the last two calendar years of Grand Slams and counting, and have set themselves scarily far apart from the rest of the pack. But beneath their momentous, center-stage war, another is incubating.

May 18, 2026

Only the Most Tenacious Thrive on the Terre Battue

Rolex Testimonees Garbiñe Muguruza, and last year's women's singles champion Coco Gauff reflect on what it takes to lift the Suzanne-Lenglen trophy at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris.

May 18, 2026

Murder on a Roman Tennis Court

Renaissance painter Caravaggio killed a man at Campo Marzio, surrounded by pimps and pallacorda.

May 15, 2026
See all posts