Ash Barty explains shock retirement decision during press conference: ‘there is no perfect timing’
- ‘I’ll never stop loving the sport. I’ll never stop hitting tennis balls,’ Barty said during a press conference in Brisbane
- Barty remained tight-lipped on what is next, but says she had seen some ‘brilliant Photoshops of me as a jockey and doing lawn bowls’
Retiring Australian tennis great Ashleigh Barty said there was no perfect way to bow out of tennis, but winning the Australian Open in front of home fans was the perfect ending to her career.
Speaking to reporters in Brisbane a day after announcing her decision, the three-times grand slam winner said she had no regrets about walking away from the sport at the peak of her career.
“I will forever be connected to tennis,” Barty said. “I’ll never stop loving the sport. I’ll never stop hitting tennis balls. I just won’t be doing it selfishly for myself and trying to progress my career.
“It will be for different reasons and I can’t wait to get out there with young girls and young boys and contribute in different ways.”
Barty leaves the game as reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion and ranked No 1 in the world. She said she knew she’d given “absolutely everything” she could to the sport, and that timing is everything.
“After Wimbledon my perspective changed a lot and there was this beautiful challenge of trying to play the Australian Open and trying to win an Australian Open which was always another goal of mine.