Ash Barty retires from Tennis

[one-eyed]

Ash Barty has announced her shock retirement from professional tennis at just 25.

VIDEO: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-23/ash-barty-announces-shock-retirement-from-tennis/13808878

When asked “why now?” Barty said achieving major goals of winning Wimbledon and the Australian Open within six months of each other convinced her the time was right to pursue other dreams.

“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,” Barty said.

“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 be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream — the one, true dream 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.

“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, and always had that really healthy balanace, but I’m really, really excited.”

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/ash-barty-announces-shock-retirement-from-tennis-at-25/news-story/5a87487e7632dbd2e8d35c61c276589b

[one-eyed]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

[Knighter]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Haha brilliant if true.  Imagine how much international media our AFLW team would receive and how much sponsorship $ would increase by!

[Tiger Tragic]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Can she play this weekend?

[WilliamPowell]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Would be great

But....

She'd need to go into the draft

4 new teams get the early picks. Any team would want her

Would love it but can't see it happening

Can see her going gave to cricket though

[lamington]

Can she nominate to play for Richmond as a marquee player sorta thing? Like I know it’s not fair per se but she’s not just an average person entering the draft.

[Andyy]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Haha brilliant if true.  Imagine how much international media our AFLW team would receive and how much sponsorship $ would increase by!

You mean the men's team?

She'd put up more fight than our midfield last week.

[Damo]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Can she play this weekend?

LMAO TT
Gold

[Gracie]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Would be great

But....

She'd need to go into the draft

4 new teams get the early picks. Any team would want her

Would love it but can't see it happening

Can see her going gave to cricket though

Can we add her to the men's list as a category B player then she can identify as female and we can transfer her to the AFLW list??

[Knighter]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Would be great

But....

She'd need to go into the draft

4 new teams get the early picks. Any team would want her

Would love it but can't see it happening

Can see her going gave to cricket though

Not if we sign her up as a top-up player

[Tigeritis™©®]

Sign her today!

[Diocletian]

She'd be an upgrade on Aarts....

[one-eyed]

Ash Barty’s phone right now


https://twitter.com/darcyvee/status/1506465251365392384

[one-eyed]

Moved this to the Richmond board because the sports reporter on the ABC just now said there's a rumour Barty may want to play for Richmond.

Can she play this weekend?

[one-eyed]

Hardwick hails 'enormous' Tigers fan Barty

By Roger Vaughan
The Age
March 24 2022 - 2:11pm

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has praised Ash Barty for her "enormous" contribution to the AFL club and says she will always be welcome at Punt Rd.

The Tigers coach has spoken of his shock at the tennis star's retirement announcement, saying she will be a big loss to sport in general.

Hardwick also would love to see Barty try playing Australian Rules.

Barty is a Tigers fanatic and was famously seen enjoying a beer at the Gabba while watching Richmond play during the 2020 finals series.

"(She has been) enormous. We probably are reflective of each other, in a way -- the way she went about her tennis and her authenticity and vulnerability," Hardwick said of her contribution to Richmond.

"It probably lent itself a little bit to what we're about as well.

"We can always learn off others and she's been a great ambassador for us also.

"Hopefully she's not too foreign to the Tigers."

While Barty is adamant there will be no tennis comeback, Hardwick hopes she might reconsider.

"Shock, I was probably like everyone else," he said of his reaction to the Barty news.

"It probably sums Ash up, in a way. She's at the top of her game and for one reason or another thought this is a good time to go.

"She'll be a loss. I hope she's not a loss for too long, I really enjoyed watching her play, obviously."

Hardwick also revealed that the Tigers have spoken to Barty about maybe trying to switch sports.

During her tennis sabbatical between late 2014 and early 2016, Barty played in the inaugural WBBL season.

"We did have a conversation. I think she was down here after we won one of the flags because we thought it would be good to see her play," Hardwick said.

"Whatever she takes her hand at she does very well at.

"I would assume ... she'd be an absolute star at playing AFL.

"I'd love to see her in Tiger colours and I'm sure the Richmond faithful would as well."

If Richmond don't recover quickly from their round-loss to Carlton, Hardwick said Barty might have an even more important role at the club.

"It might be coach if we don't start getting some wins," he said.

"She is always welcome down here, she knows that.

"So she's always welcome through our doors."

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7672092/hardwick-hails-enormous-tigers-fan-barty/?cs=9465