Australian former world number one Ashleigh Barty fielded excited questions from reporters about a possible return to tennis.
Ashleigh Barty’s retirement in March 2022 was as heartbreaking as it was understandable, with the Australian retiring while ranked number one in the world.
Having picked up three major singles titles including a famous victory at Wimbledon, only the US Open evaded Barty where she never made it past the fourth round.
However, a doubles victory with partner Coco Vandeweghe at Flushing Meadows in 2018 highlights the quality that Barty had, joining the likes of Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams as players to have won majors on all three surfaces.
An all-round sporting talent, Barty temporarily switched from tennis to competitive cricket during her teenage years and as an avid golfer who has featured in numerous overseas events, she also plays off a four handicap.
With no Australians left in the draw as a result of Alex de Minaur’s recent withdrawal, Barty is the only Australian woman to have won at Wimbledon since Evonne Goolagong.
Is Ashleigh Barty preparing a tennis comeback?
Appearing this year at the invitational doubles partnering Casey Dellacqua, Barty has returned to Wimbledon where she saw her fairytale run in 2021 play out.
A frenzy of energized reporters quizzed Barty in her press conference after her doubles win, querying whether we were set to see a competitive comeback from the 28-year-old.
The Australian however was adamant that we won’t be seeing her back on the WTA Tour anytime soon.
Barty said in her Wimbledon press conference: “You guys are killing me! I don’t know how much more I can say it. Anyone have a thesaurus for a word that I can use for ‘no’? No, mate… no I’m not [coming back].”
“Obviously this is the place that holds some of my most cherished memories. It’s really nice to be back with my best mate on the court. It’s pretty special.”
Ashleigh Barty is making a fantastic start at her commentary career at Wimbledon
The Australian has been a new sparkle in the commentary booth, with her very recent experiences on the tour making for excellent analysis.
Having played the likes of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka who currently dominate the women’s game, Barty is able to regularly part with incredibly unique, first-hand experiences which many of her colleagues at Wimbledon can’t.
With Nick Kyrgios also making a solid go on commentary during this year’s Wimbledon, it is clearly becoming a more obvious and enticing route for ex-pros to go down.
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