Ash Barty has not ruled out potentially returning to competitive tennis in future.
The three-time Grand Slam winner and reigning women’s world No1 sent shockwaves through the sport on Wednesday after confirming her retirement via social media aged just 25 in order to “chase other dreams”.
Such a surprising decision came just two months after Barty sealed her third major triumph and became the first home player to win a singles title at the Australian Open since 1978.
“I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more. I am spent,” said Barty, who had sat top of the WTA rankings for 121 weeks, 114 of those consecutively.
The multi-talented Barty has previously taken long breaks from tennis, switching focus to cricket and also having success on the golf course.
Asked about a possible future comeback to the sport at her retirement press conference, she said: “Well, you never say never, it’s a long way off.”
However, Barty, who won the Brookwater Golf Club women’s championship in September 2020, played down suggestions that she could now be seeking to take up golf professionally.
She laughed: “You guys love to whisper, don’t you? No, we’ll wait and see. I’ve got to try and learn how to hit the middle of the club face before I can think of trying to get on the tour.”
Barty’s future could lie in continuing to inspire the next generation of tennis stars within the Australian junior set-up.
“That’s just a goal and a dream of mine, to be able to give back to the sport that has given me so much,” she said.
“Obviously young girls and juniors is an area that I’m really interested in. Yeah, down the track I’m hoping I’ll be able to contribute in some way.”
