“I went through phases,” Ash Barty on never wanting the Australian Open to be her last tournament
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Ash Barty
The golden girl’s retirement certainly came as a shock when Ash Barty busted Australian hearts with the announcement of leaving the sport for good after the Tennis star won the Australian Open– further unveiling such an astonishing revelation was never her initial plan for a career-ending as such.
The Aussie star who has been married to her long-time husband Garry Kissick is known to be the second Australian of having achieved world rank no. 1 in the WTA. Nevertheless, at the early age of 25 when she announced her retirement, Barty had already added 3 Grand Slam titles on different surfaces to her mantle.
In an interview on March 23, 2022 with former doubles partner and friend, Casey Dellacqua Barty concluded by saying she is spent and doesn’t possess with the physical drive required to maintain her game anymore and the physical drive essential to fulfill the same.
Announcing retirement was ‘just business as usual’ for the Aussie’s husband Garry and her.
‘Nothing changed for us, it was everything we ever wanted,’ said Barty who felt regular on dropping the news as she turned away from her phone and television to let the devastating news and heartbroken reaction of fans spread and surpass. Wally Masur, one of the top Australian coaches and a coach to the star added more to the story when he revealed that Barty left a few Grand Slams on the table in reaction to how the fans took upon the much disheartening news.
“I went through phases,” she said. “After Wimbledon, my priorities shifted quite a lot … then the Australian Open, it wasn’t the result that was the catalyst for the decision, in my mind the decision had already been made.”
“There was a Billie Jean King Cup tie that was meant to be played in Australia, and for me, that was my target; but the tie was canceled and I was like “oh, OK, now I’m retired” … and that was all she wrote.”
As a result of such an abrupt retirement announcement, fans went on speculating that the Aussie would soon come back to action but shutting those rumors down Barty confirmed she had no plans on returning whilst also admitting to how she felt most comfortable on the tennis court. ‘That’s where I feel most comfortable is on the court, that’s my bubble; no one could touch me when I was on the playing surface’, stated Ash relishing the best moments of her life were on court and how fortunate she felt about it.
Ashleigh has been spotted on golf course several times post-retirement with rumors of turning pro spiraling around. Despite the much hue and cry in regards to her early retirement from tennis, she nevertheless would continue to inspire Aussie’s into manifesting their goals and achieve the humble sportsmanship spirit.
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