Ash Barty left tennis on the crest of a wave, retiring after winning the Australian Open to claim her third Grand Slam title.
It came as a huge surprise when she announced the decision to retire having won Wimbledon in 2021 too.
Barty left the game with three major titles to her name and sailed off into the sunset at the age of 26.
Yesterday, the former world number one was back at Wimbledon and she was watching the stunning win by Coco Gauff.
The American number one was in amazing form as she beat Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2 to comfortably reach the second round.
After her win, Barty shared something about Gauff that she thinks she’s seriously improved on just lately.
What Ash Barty has said about Coco Gauff
Lots of fans might be changing their predictions for their female winner this year after Gauff’s performance yesterday.
She simply obliterated her opponent and sent a firm message to the rest of the professional field.
Barty knows what it takes to win multiple Grand Slam titles and hold the position as the world’s number one player.
After Gauff won yesterday, Barty shared what improvement has really impressed her about the American.
She told BBC Sport: “She has developed so much. Her game is so much more complete now and she has the ability to handle the big moments so much more calmly and clearly and almost play within herself which allows her to be more free and take her time to get into these matches and trust herself.”
Gauff can star at Wimbledon this year
It would be amazing for American tennis if a Stars and Stripes player can claim Wimbledon glory.
Not since Serena Williams won her final Wimbledon crown in 2016 has an American player lifted the famous trophy and that is far too long.
With Gauff showing good form going into this year’s event, it’s impossible to write her out of the running.
Barty has clearly been impressed with her form going into this tournament and she was full of praise yesterday.
Gauff will hope to reach a career-best quarter-final in the first instance at this year’s Wimbledon but once she’s done that she might feel she can go all the way.
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