Barty does not regret retirement, has no plans to become pro golfer
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 [July 12, 2022] (Reuters)
- Former world number one Ash Barty has
no regrets about retiring from tennis in March aged 25 and also does
not plan to start playing golf professionally, ending speculation
that she would now focus her career on that sport.
Barty sent shockwaves around the tennis world when she unexpectedly
announced her retirement at the peak of her game just two months
after claiming a third Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
She had added fuel to the speculation she would become a
professional golfer in April by signing up for a series of
exhibition tournaments featuring 23 other celebrities from the world
of sport.
"I have no regrets about retiring. Not one. I knew it was the right
time for me. It was what I wanted to do," she told The Guardian in
an interview on Monday.
"And yeah, it's been incredible. It's been everything that I've ever
wanted."
Barty, who also won Wimbledon in 2021 and the French Open in 2019,
said she had not watched last week's finals at the All England Club,
adding that she did not often watch matches even when she was still
playing professionally.
Moscow-born Elena Rybakina become the first player from Kazakhstan
to win a Grand Slam singles title by beating Tunisian Ons Jabeur in
the Wimbledon final on Saturday.
Novak Djokovic lifted his seventh Wimbledon trophy on Sunday by
defeating unseeded Australian Nick Kyrgios.
"I didn't watch this year's Wimbledon finals. Sorry to disappoint.
Obviously I was wrapped for Ons and Elena Rybakina, who are both
brilliant girls," said Barty.
[to top of second column] |
Australia's Ashleigh Barty poses as she celebrates winning the final
against Danielle Collins of the U.S. with the trophy REUTERS/Loren
Elliott
"It was obviously awesome to see Nick, who I've known for over a
dozen years, get to the final.
"I hit enough tennis balls in my life. I don't need to see others
hitting them as well."
Barty plays off a handicap of four at her golf club in Queensland
and is engaged to a trainee professional but said that she plays
only for fun.
"Golf is a hobby and it always will be. I know what it takes to get
to the very top of any sport, and I don't have the desire or want to
do the work required," she added.
(Reporting by Silvia Recchimuzzi in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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