“Reason I have so much admiration for Roger, Novak, Rafa, and Serena,” Marion Bartoli reflects on Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement


“Reason I have so much admiration for Roger, Novak, Rafa, and Serena,” Marion Bartoli reflects on Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement

Ashleigh Barty and Marion Bartoli

Just months after winning her third Grand Slam at the 2022 Australian OpenAsh Barty has announced a shock retirement from professional tennis aged 25. Needless to say, the tennis world was stunned as Barty was at the peak of her game and was still in the prime of her career.

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Tributes poured in for the Aussie after she posted an emotional video on her social media announcing her early retirement. Current players and former greats of tennis all hailed Barty for the incredible success she had and wished her for the road ahead.

Marion Bartoli reflects on Ashleigh Barty retirement

Ash Barty
Ash Barty

On the August of 2013, Marion Bartoli ended her career at the age of 29, a few weeks after winning Wimbledon. Knowingly, the French explains to L’Equipe what probably pushed Ashleigh Barty to retire, to everyone’s surprise. The Australian’s decision ultimately makes the careers of the legends of the game even more impressive. 

The Frenchwoman said that all her life Barty had been said that she wasn’t good enough on many fronts to be a tennis professional and to succeed, so much so that proving them wrong was the ultimate aim and she got satisfied when she did it. She also revealed that she had huge admiration for legends like Federer, Djokovic and Nadal because the are never satisfied and have a desire to keep going.

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“  A girl like Barty had the profile of telling herself that she wouldn’t make it because she wasn’t tall enough, not physical enough, etc. Go get your dream, it’s Everest. Getting there once is the Holy Grail. It influences you a lot when making the decision. You ran after something that seemed so impossible. When you have it, you can’t leave. That’s why I have so much admiration for Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Serena. They are never satisfied. It’s supernatural, ”  said Marion Bartoli. 

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