'I won’t be one of them,' Ash Barty closes the door on comeback speculations with determination as she embraces the journey of motherhood

After making a cheerful appearance at the Brisbane event, Ash Barty remarked on the possibility of her return to professional tennis after previously hanging her rackets in March 2022. In a recent interview, the former World No. 1 stated that she had no time to prepare for the extensive training the sport calls for.

Furthermore, Barty highlighted that she would now like to take the time to create new memories with her first child, Hayden, whom she welcomed in July 2023. It is worth noting that the Aussie was expected to make a return to the tour following Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki, and Angelique Kerber, amongst seven other mothers who recently took to court at the 2024 Australian Open. 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. I won't be one of them. Barty told AAP on Wednesday (H/T: Yahoo Sports)

Barty is notably regarded as the second Australian tennis professional to clinch the World No. 1 spot, a position she held for a cumulative 121 weeks.

A recap into Ash Barty’s tennis career

Australian tennis star Ash Barty has enjoyed a splendid tennis career that witnessed her clinch 15 singles titles and three Grand Slam crowns on the WTA Tour.

The 27-year-old first turned pro in 2010 and claimed her first-ever trophy at the 2017 Malaysian Open. Barty’s first Grand Slam title came in 2019 when she lifted the season’s French Open crown and later went on to up titles at the 2021 Wimbledon and the 2022 Australian Open.

Interestingly, the Aussie took a sabbatical from the sport after the 2014 US Open to pursue a career in cricket before eventually returning to action in 2016. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old retired from tennis in March 2022 after minting a colossal $28.3 million in career prize money.