Although Australian tennis legend Ash Barty’s retirement announcement no doubt left fans disappointed that they wouldn’t see the former World No. 1 take the tennis court again, the 26-year-old has revealed that she has “no regrets” regarding the decision.
Ash Barty sent shockwaves through the world of tennis after announcing her retirement from the sport at just 25 years old.
Alongside her former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua, Barty took to Instagram to announce the move on Wednesday, March 23, telling fans that “today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis.”
“I wasn’t sure how to share this news with you so I asked my good friend @caseydellacqua to help me. I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I’ll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together,” she said at the time.
Since hanging up her racquet, Barty claimed victory in a golf tournament at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club earlier in the year and in July married long-time beau Garry Kissick, shocking fans with a photo of the secret ceremony.
Showing no signs of slowing down, Barty later revealed that she was making her mark in the corporate world with her new role with the Australian telecom giant, Optus, as their new “Chief of Inspiration”.
After what has already been a jam-packed retirement, Barty recently revealed to Sunrise that based on the last few months, her post-tennis life is “going to be a really fun journey”.
“Life’s been great,” Barty said.
“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I feel very fortunate I’ve been able to live out my childhood dream and have a career for 20 years.
“It was something I loved and now what excites me is our next chapter and what that is I’m not quite sure yet but the last six months, if it’s anything to go by, it’s going to be a really fun journey.
“Much to a lot of people’s disgust, the professional athlete is done, the tank is empty but it has been a lot of fun ticking off a few other things that I was loved to do. I’m a weekend hacker on the golf course, I love to get out with my mum and my girlfriends and that’s about as far as we go.”
Barty provides more insights into her tennis career and her difficult retirement decision in her new memoir, My Dream Time.