Aussie legend Ash Barty is ready for a return to Wimbledon this 12 months, however not in the best way the tennis world had hoped for.
Barty shocked the world in 2022 when, on the age of 25 and having been the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, retired from aggressive tennis.
On the time, minus 20 weeks the place the rankings had been frozen attributable to Covid, Barty had reigned as world No. 1 for 116 weeks.
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Since then, the tennis world has been clamouring for a return for the celebrity to the court docket, one thing Barty has refused each time of asking.
Since her retirement, Barty married her long-term companion Garry Kissick and the pair welcomed child Hayden in July 2023.
Barty has additionally saved busy, writing books, taking part in sure golf tournaments all over the world and seemingly having fun with the spoils of her laborious work on the high of the tennis world.
However Barty has seemingly backflipped on her determination to enter the commentary field, having been introduced as a part of the BBC’s staff for Wimbledon.
Through the Summer time of Sport occasion in London, BBC’s content material boss Charlotte Moore revealed Barty could be becoming a member of Nick Kyrgios and former Aussie Wimbledon champ Pat Money for the match.
“A number of Wimbledon champions will likely be becoming a member of the studio,” Moore mentioned.
“It will embody John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King and Pat Money alongside Tim Henman, Tracey Austin, Annabel Croft and Johanna Konta.
“Becoming a member of the line-up this 12 months will likely be 2021 champion Ashleigh Barty and, if he’s not taking part in, 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, so something might occur there.”
However again in November 2022 when selling her memoir My Dream Time, Barty was requested if she’d ever contemplate a transfer into the commentary field.
Her reply: “No, by no means.”
If her perspective has softened to commentary, might they soften in direction of a comeback?
As but, Barty has not softened her stance with regard to a return to the court docket.
Whereas Barty has been again across the court docket, notably on the Australian Open, she has time and time once more denied a comeback is on the playing cards.
“I don’t have the time – I don’t have the time to coach, I don’t have the time to arrange, and I’ve so many nice reminiscences out on this court docket, and now I simply get to create new reminiscences,” she mentioned late final 12 months.
“I’m definitely not popping out of retirement.”
She has additionally turn into a semi-regular at {golfing} occasions, together with the New Zealand Professional-Am Championship in late February, the place she slammed the door on a tennis return and a transfer to golf.
“And the reply isn’t any to each,” she mentioned on the time.
“I like taking part in as a interest and it’s clearly pretty to get outdoors for 18, go for a stroll, and revel in it.”
However whereas it’s excellent news that Barty will proceed across the sport, it’s bittersweet information Kyrgios will likely be becoming a member of her.
The Aussie star and 2022 Wimbledon finalist has been sidelined with harm for the perfect a part of 18 months, taking part in just one aggressive match in that point.
Whereas there had been some hope of a return to the court docket for the grass court docket season, the information seems to imply Kyrgios is destined for much more time on the sidelines.
Kyrgios is a confirmed box-office draw within the tennis world however has been attempting his hand at totally different mediums throughout his harm lay off.
The Aussie has began a podcast and interview collection underneath Naomi Osaka’s Hana Kuma model, interviewing the likes of Djokovic, Mike Tyson, The Workplace actor Rainn Wilson and movie star chef Gordon Ramsey to call a couple of.
He additionally stepped into the commentary field for ESPN and Eurosport through the Australian Open, impressing loads of followers.
