Australian tennis legend Ash Barty breaks her silence ahead of shock Wimbledon return
- Ash Barty has revealed her feelings about playing at Wimbledon again
- Mother of one says she has no plans for permanent return to court
- Will make one-off appearance at Wimbledon with Casey Dellacqua
Former world number 1 Ash Barty has spoken about her return to Wimbledon for the first time since winning the tournament in 2021, and whether she will make a permanent return to the sport.
Barty, 28, will return to the grass courts of the All England Club for the first time since her epic triumph after agreeing to take part in an invitational doubles event with her former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.
It is the first time the three-time Grand Slam champion has stepped onto the tennis court since she announced her surprise retirement in March 2022.
Barty, who has been married and become a mother since her retirement, will play the exhibition match on Tuesday, July 9 (UK time).
“The tournament invites you to play on one of the best courts in the world and I get the chance to play with my best mate – who would say no to that?” she told 7NEWS on Monday.
‘It was a strange feeling walking through the gate again because it wasn’t the memories that came flooding back – the forehands or the backhands or the serves or the match point – it was the emotions that came with that moment.
“It will always be a big part of my life.”
When asked if she was considering a permanent return to court, Barty was adamant.
Ash Barty (pictured) has spoken about playing at Wimbledon for the first time since winning the event in 2021
The tennis great will compete in an invitational doubles match with his former doubles partner and friend Casey Dellacqua
“Not for me, I’m very happy,” she said.
“I have had the most fulfilling journey in my career as a tennis player and now I am just beginning that journey as a mother.”
Since her retirement, Barty’s only top sporting achievement was the New Zealand Open pro-am event, where she tested her golf skills.
She was hesitant to pick up a racket for a competitive tournament and has said repeatedly that despite retiring at such a young age, she has no plans to stop playing full-time.
In 2021, Barty ended Australia’s 41-year drought at Wimbledon, becoming the first player since her idol, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, to win the singles trophy.
Barty had previously won the French Open in 2019, becoming the first Australian woman to do so in 46 years, before winning the 2022 Australian Open and announcing her retirement as the reigning world No. 1 two months later.
Barty (pictured, this year with son Hayden) has become a mother since leaving the sport and has repeatedly said she has no plans to return to the track, despite being just 28 years old.
The Australian said she was emotional when she returned to Wimbledon (pictured, in 2021)
The former world No. 1 recently announced that she will be joining the BBC commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
In July last year, she gave birth to son Hayden, after which tennis stars such as Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur told her that she had to return to the sport.
Since Barty’s retirement, Australian women’s influence at Grand Slams has been minimal.