Ash Barty has once again dismissed any speculation of a return to professional sport, stating definitively that she has no desire to compete again. The 25-year-old retired from tennis in March and has since been involved in golf, writing children's books, and other activities, but insists these are hobbies, not steps toward a comeback.
In a recent radio interview, Barty laughed off questions about her future sporting plans, saying, 'You guys just can’t accept that I don’t want to play professional sport anymore.' She added that while she enjoys golf, it remains a hobby and she has 'no intention of making it my profession.'
Barty also clarified that she does not watch much tennis since retiring, admitting she didn't watch this year's Wimbledon finals. 'I hit enough tennis balls in my life. I don’t need to see others hitting them as well,' she told The Guardian.
Since retiring, Barty has released four books in her Little Ash series, won the NAIDOC person of the year award, and won her local golf club's ladies competition. She says she has been 'super busy' and is focusing on inspiring the next generation through her writing and other projects.
Barty's long-time coach Craig Tyzzer revealed she asked 'Can I retire now?' after winning the French Open in 2019. Barty confirmed that her decision to retire was made before the Australian Open, which she won, and that she has 'no regrets' about leaving professional sport.
