Ash Barty sat down with her long-time friend and former tennis player Casey Dellacqua to announce her shock retirement from professional tennis. This is what they said.
Casey Dellacqua: “Ash, it’s always great to see you. I have a slight inkling I know why I’m here. Probably don’t want to acknowledge it. Why am I here today?”
Ash Barty: “I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to do this but I think so many times in my life, both my professional and my personal, you’ve [Dellacqua] been there for me. There’s no right way, there’s no wrong way. It’s just my way. And this is perfect for me to share it with you, to talk to you about it with my team, my loved ones that I will be retiring from tennis.
“And it’s first time I’ve actually said it out loud. And it’s hard to say. But I’m so happy and I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person this is right.
“I know I’ve done this before but in a very different feeling.
“And I’m so grateful to everything tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams plus more.
“But I know that the time is right for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the racquets down.”
Dellacqua: “Thank you for trusting me again. You’re an inspiration to so many and it can’t be easy but it also must feel nice to get it off your chest … Why now?”
Barty: “It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.
“And I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments.
“Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person, and for me as an athlete when you work so hard your whole life for one goal. And I’ve been able to share that with so many incredible people.
“But to win Wimbledon which was my dream, the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective.
“I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it.
“There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled.
“And then came the challenge of the Australian Open. And I think that for me just feels like the perfect way, my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been. As a person this is what I want.
“I want to chase after some other dreams that I’ve always wanted to do. Always had that really healthy balance.
“I’m really, really excited.”
Dellacqua: “I think it will be hard for a lot of people to understand because, as you said, you’re a three-time grand slam champion. You’ve just come off winning the AO. You’re probably one of the most marketable athletes in the world. How difficult was it to come to this decision?”
Barty: “There was a perspective shift in me in this second phase of my career, that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results. And success for me is knowing I’ve given absolutely everything I can. I’m fulfilled, I’m happy.
“I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself and I’ve said it to my team multiple times, it’s just I don’t have that in me any more. I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more.
“I just know that I am absolutely – I am spent – I just know physically I have nothing more to give. And that to me is success. I have given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis.
“I am really happy with that. And for me that is my success. I know that people may not understand it. That’s OK. I am OK with that because I know for me Ash Barty the person has so many dreams that she wants to chase after, that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home which is where I’ve always wanted to be.
“I’ll never stop loving tennis. It’ll always be a massive part of my life. But now I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not as Ash Barty the athlete.
Dellacqua: “Well, I know I speak for so many people, Ash. I know your family are going to love having you around more. I’m going to love having you around more, a bit more time with you. But I know I speak for so many people to say thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve given to our sport. Having known you for so long one thing I know is that you make decisions that are right for you and they’ve always worked out. And you’ve done it your way and I think that’s really brave. I think that’s really credible. So thank you for everything you’ve done for our sport. Thank you for giving us you, Ash Barty. Enjoy retirement.”
Barty: “It’s scary!” (laughing)
Dellacqua: “You’re amazing and it must have been so difficult for you to reach this decision and so difficult for you to sit here and actually speak about it. And I know that you’re going to speak about it more to … but I’m just so proud of you and I’m so excited as well for what’s next for you.”
Barty: “It was hard, but it’s right, and I know that brought me lots of comfort knowing that this is right for me. But I’m very excited.”
Dellacqua: “Should we hug it out?”
Barty: “We should.”
Dellacqua: “Love you, sweety.”
Barty: “Love you too.”
