Ashleigh Barty news: Cricket legend thinks Aussie’s retirement was a ‘weird’ choice

Lucy Roberts
May 3, 2022

Former tennis world No 1 Ashleigh Barty announced her retirement from tennis in March and it shocked the tennis world, but it also came as a surprise to cricket legend AB de Villiers who has called her decision a “weird one to explain.”

The two sports stars couldn’t have more of a different career path if they tried – Barty has been in and out of tennis for a few years now, taking time out to play cricket before returning to then retire and try her hand at golf.

While de Villiers spent almost a decade at the top of his game and only called it a day on his international career in 2018.

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But the two know each other from the brief spell Barty spent playing in Australia’s Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat, but they’ll be reunited at the ICONS golf series the pair are teaming up for at the end of June.

Even though the Australian Open champion has stepped away from tennis before but has made a comeback, it feels different this time around and it doesn’t look like fans will see her back on a tennis court anytime soon.

“It is a weird one to explain,” de Villiers told AFP.

“I think the best answer is that every person has their own way of manoeuvring through their career, some as long as possible.

“The whole world respects her decision, I would like to think stepping away can be a relief but it is an incredible age to retire.”

The 26-year-old Wimbledon winner was surrounded by speculation about what she was going to turn her hand to next, whether she would be returning to cricket, starting a new sport or simply sitting back and having a break.

However it seems like golf will be her new venture, but she’s also having a go at being an author as she announced that she is set to release a series of children’s books.

Ashleigh Barty