Barty set for ‘strange’ Aus Open return as star discusses retirement

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Ash Barty has discussed life after tennis as she prepares for a “bizarre” return to the Australian Open in a different role. The 26-year-old stunned the tennis world when she announced her sudden retirement in March while sitting at No 1 in the world, having just won the Australian Open for her third Grand Slam title. 

In a year that has seen multiple high-profile retirements in the tennis world, none was arguable as shocking as Barty’s decision to call time on her career given the fact that she was the world No 1 and had just lifted her home Grand Slam title, ending a 44-year wait for a home champion in the Australian Open singles.

The Queensland native has now picked up the Newcombe Medal – Australia’s annual tennis award – for the fifth year running and opened up on what her retirement looked like as she prepared to return to next month’s Australian Open as a member of the audience despite being the defending champion.

“It’s obviously going to feel a little bit bizarre but I’m excited to be back down here for the Australian Open,” the 15-time singles title winner told the Herald Sun. “It’s a great time of year but now I get to see it from the other side.”

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Since retiring, Barty has been keeping herself busy with a number of off-court commitments including writing a series of kids’ books titled Little Ash, as well as her own autobiography. And the three-time Major champion had also been enjoying the opportunity to be around her family all year long now she no longer had to travel for the tennis tour.

“I’m focused now on being Aunty Ash and it’s Christmas time with the kids,” Barty continued, speaking about her post-tennis lift. “I’m not bored, I think this year obviously was very busy with all my book stuff and the memoir release, the Little Ash books which has been great.

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“It’s been a lot to take in. I think there was a part of me that was a little bit scared and fearful of how it would be received. But so far, so good.” But Barty managed to get back along her former rivals as she received the Newcombe Medal, being joined by her entire team to win for the fifth-straight year.

“For a lot of us this night is a celebration of community, there’s so many cogs in the chain. It’s also for my team, celebrating my team and acknowledging their efforts,” she said after receiving the prestigious award, beating out the likes of Nick Kyrgios and Ajla Tomljanovic.

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