Ash Barty to return to playing tennis at 2024 Wimbledon

The Australian will be back at the Championships after three years.

Ash Barty to return to playing tennis at 2024 Wimbledon

Ash Barty (Image via Imago)

Former Australian tennis ace Ash Barty is making a comeback to the tennis court. The 28-year-old will be playing at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, as revealed by the organizers. Barty will play in an invitational doubles match at this year’s Championships where the former World No. 1 will be featured alongside other former professionals in the exhibition event.

After announcing her shock retirement two years back, Barty will be back on the court of a major tournament for the first time. She hung up her racket in March 2022, two months after she scripted history by lifting the title at the Australian Open.

YouTube video

While Barty said back then that she wanted to focus on other things in her life, the 28-year-old is now coming back to tennis to send her fans into nostalgia. The Australian last played at the Championships in 2021 when she defeated Karolina Pliskova in the final to lift the title. Now, she will play in the invitational double event.

FS Video

The organizers announced Barty’s participation in the exhibition through a social media post on Thursday. However, Barty’s partner for the doubles event is yet to be announced.

Reunited with the #Wimbledon grass. Delighted to have our 2021 singles champion @ashbarty returning for this year’s Invitation Doubles
Wimbledon announced Ash Barty’s participation in Invitational Doubles event.

Notably, while Wimbledon will begin on July 1, the exhibition event will kick off on July 9, with Barty set to play at least three matches as part of the women’s doubles tournament.

Fans speculate Caroline Wozniacki-like comeback for Ash Barty

As Ash Barty is set to play the invitational doubles event at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, fans speculate a Caroline Wozniacki-like comeback for the former Australian ace. With the announcement of Barty playing at the Championships, her fans are over the moon and are excited to see the stalwart in action.

Ashleigh Barty
Ashleigh Barty

The announcement post from Wimbledon was bombarded with comments about Barty’s potential comeback. While most of the fans are hoping that Barty starts playing on the tour again, one fan recalled how Wozniacki also made a comeback after playing in an invitational event.

Wozniacki played this and then came back soon after
A fan commented under Wimbledon’s announcement post.

Notably, while Wozniacki never shut the door on her comeback, Barty has been clear in her goals as the Australian has said time and again that she has no plans to come back. Barty had said a few months back that she enjoys being a mother and that is her biggest priority now. Thus, a comeback is definitely not on the cards for the former World No. 1.

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