Former world No.1 Ash Barty has spoken about her return to play at Wimbledon for the first time since winning the tournament in 2021 – and if she will make a permanent return to the sport.
Barty, 28, will be reuniting with the grass courts at the All England Club for the first time since her epic triumph after agreeing to take part in an invitational doubles match with former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.
It will be the first time the three-time grand slam champion takes to the courts since announcing her shock retirement in March 2022.
Barty, who since her retirement has got married and become a mother, will play in the exhibition match on Tuesday, July 9 (UK time).
‘The tournament invites you to play on one of the best courts in the world and I get an opportunity to play with my best mate – who would say no?’ she told 7NEWS on Monday.
‘It was a strange feeling walking through the gates again because it wasn’t memories that came up – the forehands or backhands or serves or the match point, it was the emotions that came with that moment.
‘It’ll always be a massive part of my life.’
When asked if she is thinking about returning to the court for good, Barty was firm.
Ash Barty (pictured) has spoken about playing at Wimbledon again for the first time since she won the event in 2021
The tennis great will take part in an invitational doubles match with former doubles partner and friend Casey Dellacqua
‘Not for me, I’m very happy,’ she said.
‘I’ve had the most fulfilling journey in my career as a tennis player and now I’m just beginning that journey as a mum.’
Since her retirement, Barty’s lone competitive sporting hit-out was in the New Zealand Open pro-am event, where she tested her golfing skills.
She has been reluctant to pick up a racquet competitively and has repeatedly said that despite retiring at such a young age, she had no intention of a full-time return.
In 2021, Barty ended Australia’s 41-year drought at Wimbledon, becoming the first player since her idol, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, to lift the singles trophy.
Barty had previously won the French Open in 2019 – the first Australian woman in 46 years to do so – before claiming the Australian Open in 2022 and announcing her retirement two months later as the reigning world No.1.
Barty (pictured, with son Hayden this year) has become a mum since leaving the sport and has repeatedly said she has no plans to return to the court despite being just 28 years old
The Australian said she felt emotional being back at Wimbledon again (pictured, in 2021)
The former world No.1 recently announced she’ll be part of the BBC’s TV commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
She gave birth to son Hayden in July last year, after which tennis stars including Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur told her to return to the sport.
Since Barty’s retirement, Australian female stamp at grand slams has been minimal.
