Ash Barty will write a series of children's books following her sudden retirement from tennis aged just 25.
Having previously played both golf and cricket, speculation regarding a potential return to either of those sports was rampant, but it seems her immediate future lies in writing. The six-part series will be loosely based on the sports star's life and experiences. The books will be named Little Ash, while First Nations creatives Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin will illustrate the stories.
HarperCollins are set to publish the series and it is scheduled to hit the shelves in July. “This project has been so much fun and something I have always wanted to do,” she told the publication, as she revealed the influence of her niece, five-year-old Lucy, on her decision to write the books.
“Lucy was my North Star. She is the perfect age to understand stories and storylines and read chapter books.” While relishing the opportunity to create something to inspire the next generation, the multi-talented athlete admitted it has also been a strange experience to partake in writing a life story at such a young age.
“At 25 it’s not super-regular that something like this happens but it is a very exciting project,” she added. “Looking back and talking about it has brought me so much joy and heartache and pain but I think it will be a very good read.”
She will also release a memoir of her life later this year. Earlier this month Barty won the Brookwater Golf and Country Club on the south-western outskirts of Brisbane, further increasing the rumours she would be dabbling in the sport professionally. “I had a good laugh about it. It’s alright. It’s all good,” Barty said in regards to the speculation.
“We try and play every week if we can. Normally its one in all in or one out all out. A very cruisy four-ball.” Barty made the announcement regarding her tennis retirement in a an interview with compatriot and friend Casey Dellacqua. “It's the first time I've said it out loud, so it's hard to say but I'm so happy and I'm so ready,” she explained in the video.
“I know I've done this before but in a very different feeling and I'm so grateful of what tennis has given me, all of my dreams plus more but I know the time is right now for me to step away and to put the rackets down." Barty won 15 titles across her career, including this year’s Australian Open, with her earnings from prize money alone totalling an estimated $24million (£18.1m).
