Ashleigh Barty reveals what she misses most about tennis and addresses comeback rumours
Ashleigh Barty admits she has one big regret following her retirement as she also discussed rumours that she could consider a return to the sport.
Three-time Grand Slam winner Barty stunned the sporting world when she retired at the age of 25 in March 2021 – just weeks after she realized her dream of winning her home major, the Australian Open.
Nearly three years on the former world No 1 is still enjoying life away from tennis, but she admits she misses seeing her friends regularly on tour.
“I miss parts of it, but mostly I miss seeing my mates,” the 27-year-old said.
“I miss seeing the girls that I’ve built such a relationship with over so many years, but a lot of my best mates have also retired now and they’re kind of moving on to their next chapters.
“We’ll still get out there and hit occasionally if anyone asks or any of my mates ask.
“But no, I’m enjoying what I’m doing now.”
READ MORE: Iga Swiatek’s praise for ‘undisputed leader’ Ashleigh Barty as she opens up about ‘great loss for the sport’
A year after her retirement, Barty married her long-term boyfriend Garry Kissick and a few months later they announced they were expecting their first child with the former world No 1 giving birth to a boy named Hayden in July 2023.
Following the return of fellow tennis mothers Caroline Wozniacki, Elina Svitolina, Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka in recent years, there had been talk that Barty could follow suit.
Barty concedes there is nothing that is preventing her from playing tennis, but it she just “absolutely loves” being a mother.
“There’s nothing keeping me away. It’s not like I’m doing things to keep myself away from the court,” she said. “I want be able to be there to raise Hayden and I want to be able to enjoy that.
“That’s what I want to do, plain and simple. That’s where my priorities lie now.
“I absolutely love being mum. There’s nothing else that I prefer to do.”
Something else that is keeping Barty busy these days is her foundation, which was recently launched at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
For Barty, it is about giving back.
“The foundation is not quite full-time but I want to be involved,” she revealed.
“It was the reason I waited until I had finished playing and had retired so that I had more time to commit. It wasn’t something that I wanted to do just when I could fit it in.
“My dad’s a chair, one of my sisters is on the board, which is great, and the other one, we’re in discussions every day.
“I’m very grateful that we’ve got such an amazing team and it’s really nice to do it with people that I love and trust, and people that have the same philosophies and values.”
