Ash Barty, the former world No. 1 tennis player, has been let go from her role as Chief of Inspiration at Australian telecommunications giant Optus.

Barty took on the position in September 2022, shortly after retiring from professional tennis. However, just two years later, Optus has decided to eliminate Barty’s role.

This news comes just weeks before the Australian Open, where fans are hopeful that the former champion will make a guest appearance. Barty shocked the tennis community when she announced her retirement in March 2022.

At only 25 years old, she was the reigning champion of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon and held the world No. 1 ranking. Shortly after retiring, Barty began working with Optus, marking her first new partnership post-retirement.

The telecom company stated at the time that she would “feature in a mix of content initiatives, employee engagement programs and community-focused campaigns”. These were “aimed at connecting Australians together and inspiring them to say ‘yes’ to their dreams, goals, and ambitions.”

However, Optus has now ended its relationship with both Barty and Daniel Ricciardo, who had been the Chief of Optimism since 2020. Their departures occurred prior to former Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin being succeeded by Stephen Rue in September.

Both athletes have updated their LinkedIn profiles to reflect these changes. A company spokesperson disclosed to the Australian Financial Review: “The decision was taken as we looked to rebuild customer trust and focus on the fundamentals that we know are important to them – a resilient network, great value products and services, and simple, efficient customer service.”

Ex-boss Bayer Rosmarin was still leading the company when Barty was hired. She said at the time of the ex-tennis star’s appointment: “Ash is a true Australian icon and role model – her performance on the courts epitomised a challenger spirit, determination and strength, while her community work has demonstrated the power of optimism in action.”

Despite her departure from Optus, Barty remains engaged with various projects. The 28-year-old has penned a children’s book series called Little Ash and collaborates with two other prominent Australian brands: Tim Tam and Vegemite.

Furthermore, after competing in Wimbledon’s legends tournament, she ventured into broadcasting, contributing to BBC’s Wimbledon commentary and joining Australia’s Stan crew for Olympics coverage.

As the Australian summer of tennis approaches, fans eagerly anticipate seeing Barty either amongst spectators or providing her insights on screen during events in Brisbane, Adelaide, the United Cup in Sydney and Perth, and when the Australian Open kicks off on January 12.