MELBOURNE: Former top-ranked Tennis player and Australian Open champion Ashleigh Barty has put an end to the speculations making rounds on the internet regarding her switching to Golf and pursuing a professional career in the sport.
Barty, who put a shocking end to her professional Tennis career, weeks after becoming the first Australian to win the Australian Open after a gap of 44 years, was seen playing Golf after her retirement.
The three-time Grand Slam champion has been a passionate golfer, having won the Brookwater Golf Club women’s title in 2020 and participated in the Icons Series exhibition in the United States in April.
As a result, rumours began to circulate that the multi-talented Australian may take up Golf professionally.
In an interview with a Melbourne radio station, however, Barty refuted the speculations thoroughly and made it clear that she will not play professional sports ever again.
“You guys just can’t accept that I don’t want to play professional sport anymore. I love golf, it’s a hobby of mine. It will not be my profession, I have no intention of making it my profession but I hack around once a week if I can,” Barty said.
“There’s no need, there’s no desire for me to play professional sport, particularly golf. I love it as a walkaround with my girlfriends and friends but yeah, not for me,” she added.
It is pertinent to mention here Barty has also played professional cricket as she made her mark in the inaugural season of the Women’s Big Bash League. She represented Brisbane Heat in nine matches and scored 68 runs at an average of 11.33.
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SYDNEY: World number one Ashleigh Barty stunned the tennis world Wednesday by announcing her early retirement from the sport at the age of just 25.
Barty dropped the bombshell weeks after becoming the first home-grown champion of the Australian Open in 44 years, joining tennis royalty’s most exclusive club with a Grand Slam crown on three different surfaces.
“Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis,” she said in a video posted on Instagram.
In the tearful video message with her close friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua, Barty said she was “thankful for everything this sport has given me”.
“I’m so happy, and I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart as a person, this is right. I’m so grateful for everything that tennis has given me, it’s given me all of my dreams plus more.
“But I know the time is now right for me to step away and chase other dreams and put the racquets down.”
Barty has been world number one for more than two years and retires after winning three Grand Slam singles titles — the French Open in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open this year.
“Thank you for being an incredible ambassador for this sport and for women around the world,” the Women’s Tennis Association tweeted. “We will miss you so much, Ash.”
Widely seen as one of the most respected and loved players on tour, Barty rapidly became the best, with her dizzying array of slices, pinpoint serving and seamless forehand typifying her all-round game.
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MELBOURNE: World’s top-ranked Australian tennis player – Ashleigh Barty has won the Australian Open title by defeating USA’s Danielle Collins by 6-3 7-6 (7-2), here at Rod Laver Arena.
The Australian tennis player – Barty made a remarkable comeback from 5-1 down in the second set to go on to win the title.
The 25-years-old has ended the 44 year-long title drought of a Grand Slam women’s singles championship for her homeland.
The top seed won the final of the mega event without dropping a single set.
On this remarkable achievement, Barty said that she is proud to be an ‘Aussie’, while she also thanked the crowd for their immense support.
“This is a dream come true for me. I am so proud of being an Aussie. As an Aussie, the most important part of this tournament has been being able to share this experience with the fans,” she said.
“This crowd is one of the most fun I’ve played in front of,” she added.
Barty also addressed the crowd and and thanked them to push her to play ‘best tennis’.
“You relaxed me and forced me to play my best tennis. Thank you,” she said.
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