At his first press conference since announcing he was no longer playing professional tennis, the three-time champion and current world No. 1 Ash Barty called his decision "terrible but exciting" and said he was looking forward to working with young Australian players soon. in the future, as well as spending time with his family.
"It's exciting because there are so many things Ash Barty, someone who wants to achieve and the dreams I want to pursue," Barty told a group of international journalists in a video call Thursday in Australia. "But I think my goal will not change, I just contribute differently. I find it very helpful on the tennis side with young girls, young boys, and the community at large, which is something I enjoy."
Barty, 25, surprised the world of tennis on Wednesday with a six-minute video on Instagram in which he said he would be out of the game, which would start working soon, to "chase other dreams." In the clip, which was recorded as a conversation with his friend and ex-partner Casey Dellacqua, Barty admitted that he "no longer has the physical strength, emotional longing and all that is needed to challenge yourself at the highest level."
"I'm done," he said.
Barty has revealed that he planned to play in the Australian home game against Slovakia in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier next month before retiring, but the event was eventually called off after Australia replaced Russia in the final and no longer needed to enter.
In January, Barty ended a 44-year drought of domestic players at the Australian Open following a stunning direct victory over American Danielle Collins in the final. He never dropped a set in the tournament and joined Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic who are the only active players to have won Grand Slam singles titles in all three venues. He has won the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon, achieving his childhood dream, in 2021.
Former junior player, young Barty took a break from sports following the US Open in 2014 and pursued a paid cricket career. She is back in tennis after 18 months, and since the start of 2017, her first full season back on tour, no woman has won more titles than Barty. In addition to his three major awards, Barty has won another 12 singles awards, including three 1000 level events, and four double titles, including the 2018 US Open. He won a bronze medal in the Tokyo double mix.
His long-time coach Craig Tyzzer said he was not surprised by Barty's decision and knew that after Wimbledon it would be difficult for him to continue the game.
"I think when we got to the Olympics it affected me a lot, and there was not much left for him," Tyzzer told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday. "The inspiration was not there except when he played double games with Storm [Sanders] and mixed with John Peers. His songs went side by side ... I felt like he was riding where he needed to get to and it would have been hard to keep him involved.
Tyzzer revealed, with a laugh, Barty initially asked if he could retire following his victory in the first Slam in 2019.
Barty holds the highest position in the world 114 weeks ago, with a total of 121 weeks. She joins Justine Henin as the only retired woman when she is ranked number 1. Henin was also 25 when he left in 2008, but he finally returned two years later. Barty never completely took the opportunity to come back when asked directly about it.
"You never say you can't, but it's still a long way off," said Barty.
Barty said his name will be removed from the ratings in the next round, after the completion of the Miami Open, where he is a defending champion. Iga Swiatek, who won the Indian Wells title last week, is currently ranked 2nd, and Barty highly recommended he could replace him.
"He is an amazing man, a great tennis player and the way he has brought new, courageous power to the stadium has been great," said Barty, before adding that Swiatek was one of the first to text him after his retirement announcement.
But Swiatek was not the only one of Barty's peers to comment on the announcement. Serena Williams, who holds the record for most major titles in the Open Era at the age of 23, said she was "saddened" to hear of Barty's decision, but was "delighted with your new chapter."
Andy Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner, said he too was happy with him, but "determined to play tennis."
