The resignation of Ashleigh Barty in the spring hit the tennis scene like a blow. Now the Australian has spoken for the first time about her motives and revealed surprising details.
Ashleigh Barty’s retirement in March 2022 came as a complete surprise to the sports world. A few weeks earlier, the Australian had won the Australian Open and played perhaps her best tennis ever. Far and wide there was no player in sight who could have contested her status as number one in the world. But even then, Barty knew her performance in Melbourne would be her last.
“Winning Wimbledon was the only thing I wanted to achieve throughout my career,” Barty told News Corp Australia. After she asserted herself on the holy lawn in June 2021, “the fire in me went out”, the Australian gave an insight into her emotional world.
“I don’t know what else I’m playing for. I think I’m done. I have nothing left to give, no more sparks,” Barty described this phase in her forthcoming book “My Dream Time” with emotional words.
Barty sees “red flag” in training
Though mentally she was done with her career after winning Wimbledon, Barty continued playing for a few more months. There were some indications that things had changed now and their motivation was no longer the same.
The 26-year-old reported that one day she had to break off a training session on the bike halfway through. Completely atypical and a “red flag” (Barty) for one of, if not the, fittest player on the entire WTA tour.
Later in 2021, her attitude towards tennis changed fundamentally. With the knowledge that her career was about to end, her approach changed too. Barty no longer worried about the pressure and played “carefree,” as she put it. The reward was, among other things, the victory at the Australian Open 2022, after which she finally retired.
Barty made it unmistakably clear that she has not regretted her resignation to this day. On the contrary. “The last six, seven months of my life have been what I always wanted. I love my life as it is at the moment,” said the former tennis player.