News & Events Ash Barty has Retired

[WhatAFool89]

This news today completely floored me.

Obviously, we've already seen that in her relatively short adult life, she's been confident to change direction, and move on to new challenges. And understandably, her future pursuits may be more concentrated towards her personal and family life, and that is admirable. I reckon it has been grossly rude and disrespectful from the people who are judging her, and making definitive assumptions about her, or what her actual intentions might be.

... The shock to me, has been more along the lines of how after all her hard work to reach the pinnacle of tennis, she has the courage to let it go and walk away... We rarely see champions willingly walk away from their sport prematurely, at or near the top. But we almost constantly see examples of sporting champions who cannot or will not let go.

 

[JamisonRun40]

I guess the world has gone crazy and it seems Ash wants to get off to spend more time with her family and maybe start her own family.
Maybe the travel bubble and restrictions was too much to cope with and being away for so long last year.
I didn't think she would play til she reached 30 but I thought at least another couple of years. She still had so much more to accomplish, defending her Wimbledon title for one. A new Wimbledon champ this year.
I wonder if her partner Gary will be able to turn pro golfer now. Maybe Ash is going to be his caddy, I think we'll see Ash in a few years in a different sport.
The WTA won't be happy but the players will be as they won't have to face her slice anymore. Swiatek to take over No 1 spot before French Open.

 

[torq]

Full of admiration for Ash. She and her fiancee have built a home in Brookwater, a beautiful suburb created in woodlands between Brisbane and Ipswich. She has enough money to never have to work again. She will probably always have some involvement in junior tennis academies and as an advocate for indigenous youth in Queensland.

Home is where the heart is, and it must be especially true for a proud and humble Aussie girl like Ash. Every pro player must feel homesick. As nice as it must be to fly first class and stay in five-star accommodation, it must get tiresome week-in, week-out, year after year.

Just a pity she didn’t have a crack at the US Open this year and complete a career Grand Slam. Her coach said the courts don’t suit her but she would have been hard to beat on current form.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Welcome to Tigerland

 

[JamisonRun40]

Well Borg retired at 25 or around that age.
Maybe Osaka should retire as clearly she is not enjoying playing tennis at all.
I think Tyzzer will just sit out the year he probably won't want to travel very far over the next few months.
I feel disappointed in her decision but I get it. Maybe she doesn't have the passion for the sport as I don't think she watches a lot when she is not playing.
Oh wait we haven't had Roger respond to the news yet.

 

[Munich]

A very Australian thing to do. Ian Thorpe retired on top, a smart decision, before the inevitable tall poppy kicks in.

Well it's been done before in tennis.

And an almost identical example is Henin in 2008.

 

[Neese]

I am a bit sad because I enjoy watching her play but she's never hidden how much she doesn't enjoy being away overseas for much of the year.
She's got other things she wants to do now I guess.

 

[Floghead2007]

Ipswich's Finest
I admire everything she did
Inspired lots of young kids to play tennis
and she isnt a flog like Kyrigos or Tomic

 

[deanc]

Did you get 3 sources on that?

Yeah, I don't think the rumour is true as Tom Morris just tweeted he spotted Barty in here:

 

[BringouttheGimp]

Well done Ash..

She did it her way.

May your cards be live.. and your pots be monsters.

A true great.

 

[Foley#41]

Which political party ?

She is too much her own person to join LNP and her IQ is way too high for Labor.

Want there supposed to be a Barty Party?
I’m sure I read about it somewhere…

 

[John Who]

Gutted of the retirement news, as she was one of our finest Aussie sporting champs. A true ambassador for the sport of tennis (on and off court).

Super proud and happy for her to be a role model of individuality, choosing the path she wants in life, and not let others dictate her goals.

My prediction in 5 years time - Barty has 2 kids, tries out AFLW with Brisbane, wins the Coleman medal in her first year as a small forward, then immediately announces her retirement from AFLW.

 

[The hands of stone]

Champion on and off the court , well done Ash what a brilliant role model she is .

 

[Roobs321]

Yesterday: sad but not surprised or anything and cool satisfying way to check out. It makes sense, and I've had a couple faves bow out like that now so used to it.

This morning: what does this mean for the tv rights going forward?

I think C9 has all four slams in 2022, and we know C7 were after it to return recently. With Ash a credible threat at each slam, they were hoping they had a little homegrown Federer that would drive ratings to each of those slams, especially among casuals on finals weekend. We know historically that the FO and USO coverage here can be shaky, and so with Ash retiring they must be scrambling a little bit to rethink their approach and marketing. We have some other great players, but none anywhere near that status of Barty where you expect some second week action.

 

[Satan]

Useless press conference , cant hear questions

 

[JackNah_8]

It's annoying we can't hear the questions.

I wonder if she has an injury so decided to quit but she keeps talking about her next project

 

[pepsi]

Typical Ash, she could have stayed on the rankings and accumulated several more weeks as the number 1. But she will drop out of the rankings when they next come out and swiatek will be the most likely new number 1.

 

[MrBarry]

Well it's been done before in tennis.

And an almost identical example is Henin in 2008.

Henin had a lot more grand slams under the belt though with 7, by the time she retired.

Can't help but feel Ash has pulled the pin probably 2 years to early - but her call.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Iga should be become the new #1 after Miami, though Badosa would but she needs everything to go her way.

 

[FreoRicci]

I personally think she will look back on this and regret it later in life - she's only 25 and I think she is leaving at least 5 or 6 grand slam titles on the table, which puts her in the upper echelon of the sports great players.

If this is what she wants then good luck to Ash, but I'm just gutted as I love watching her play.

The rest of the womens tour will be breathing a sigh of relief, as none of them looked near her tbh.

100%. This has Bjor Borg written all over it.
Get the humble, graciousness of the decision but really feel this is a terrible life decision. Ability to win 10+ Majors is easily attainable given the lack of challengers. Osaka is cooked, Serena is old, Raducanu is inconsistent at this point of time.
The decision will be a big regret.

 

[BobbyMorri]

Its amazing that Barty has had so much success with a lack of that "killer instant" we hear so much about for elite athlets. Dont get me wrong, I am sure she is competitive, but she is no Michael Jordan.

Its a testament to her talent.

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

I think Ash is one of those people that loves tennis (loves sport) but just loves playing it. A few trophies are nice but once she's achieved that it has no ongoing appeal for her. She's always been open about not liking the loneliness and the grind of the tour and being away from home so in that way it's no real surprise. I can't see her going into politics though.

 

[Neese]

2022 sure is a rollercoster year for Australian sports people

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

This news today completely floored me.

Obviously, we've already seen that in her relatively short adult life, she's been confident to change direction, and move on to new challenges. And understandably, her future pursuits may be more concentrated towards her personal and family life, and that is admirable. I reckon it has been grossly rude and disrespectful from the people who are judging her, and making definitive assumptions about her, or what her actual intentions might be.

... The shock to me, has been more along the lines of how after all her hard work to reach the pinnacle of tennis, she has the courage to let it go and walk away... We rarely see champions willingly walk away from their sport prematurely, at or near the top. But we almost constantly see examples of sporting champions who cannot or will not let go.

Venus Williams springs to mind. Serena will be in that boat in 12-18 months if she doesn't get back onto the court. She's still capable of at least 1 more big run IMO, a last hurrah to equal the record. Could say the same for Federer too. I think the end is nigh but again 1 last run at Wimbledon to go out on a high.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Rafter retired at 28 while still a top 10 player. He is one Aussie player that can relate to this decision. Just made the Wimbledon final that year as well.