Retired for Over a Year and Expecting First Child, Barty Misses “Thrill of the Fight”

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday May 13, 2023

Out of tennis for more than a year now, former World No.1 and three-time major champion Ash Barty is expecting her first child and – watching lots of tennis.

The 27-year-old, who retired officially in March of last year, gave an exclusive to Courtney Walsh and confessed that she has been watching tennis – something she didn’t normally do during her playing days – quite a bit of late.

A chat with #AustralianMade ambassador @ashbarty about life in retirement, from missing the tactical breakdowns with Craig #Tyzzer and her hopes that Simona #Halep finds a resolution to an surprising side effect of pregnancy on the golf course.https://t.co/SXfq81YHsL

— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) May 11, 2023

“Probably what I miss the most is the thrill of the fight with Tyzz, sitting down together and working out a way to completely unravel our opponent,” Barty, who announced in January that she and partner Gary Kissick were expecting their first child, said. “That’s what I loved the most, the tactical side of the game and being able to make your opponent feel very uncomfortable and do that with my skills and my weapons. I do miss spending time with … all of my team.”

Barty also weighed in on Simona Halep’s doping suspension, and the ongoing drama surrounding the Romanian’s neglected bid to have her side of the story heard.

“I love Simo and I respect Simo,” Barty said. “I’ve spoken to her a little bit over the last 12 months or so, just checking in to see how she is going. She is an exceptional person. I really sincerely hope that she has an opportunity to have her say and to explain her side, because there are always two sides to every story.”