For skilled athletes, diving right into a profession in media and commentary after retirement has nearly turn into a formality.
It’s doesn’t take lengthy for a high-profile tennis star to make their commentary debut after hanging up the boots, however Australian champion Ash Barty has little interest in selecting up the microphone this summer time.
“No, by no means,” she responded to queries a few potential commentary profession this week.
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Barty’s overwhelming reputation and pure charisma would make her the right addition to Channel 9’s commentary workforce, however the 26-year-old is having fun with life away from tennis.
The reigning Australian Open champion — who additionally claimed grand slam triumphs in Wimbledon and Roland Garros earlier than asserting her retirement earlier this yr — hasn’t watched a match since she give up.
“I’m not coaching to be an athlete anymore,” Barty mentioned whereas selling her My Dream Time memoir.
“I’m not coaching as a job, I’m coaching for leisure and coaching to have enjoyable.
“I miss competing and difficult myself in opposition to one of the best of the world however I don‘t miss so much that comes with it.
“I‘m nonetheless aggressive with myself after I practice at dwelling. I nonetheless try to push myself however there’s no white-line fever any extra.
“And I by no means actually felt like there was this void that wanted to be stuffed in as a result of there was a real sense of fulfilment on the finish of my profession.
“I don’t assume I used to be nonetheless trying to find the aggressive beast anymore …
“I nonetheless in all probability don‘t know precisely (what’s subsequent), there are actually issues that I need to do and methods I need to contribute and whether or not that’s by my basis, obtained loads of work to do with that, so there may be pleasure round that.
“It provides us time to plan these items, plan what’s my motive for me to get off the bed, to maintain engaged on my function and maintain creating that and maintain contributing in numerous methods.
“That’s what is thrilling, there’s a little little bit of, ‘What’s it?’ and that’s an thrilling query.”
Barty squeezed loads of success into her comparatively brief profession earlier than stunning the tennis world when she retired on the age of 25 recent off her 2022 Australian Open success.
Chatting with Channel 9’s Dawn, the Queenslander revealed she was appreciative of with the ability to see the world, it was a tough life being on the street many of the yr from a younger age.
“It was exhausting, no doubt, however has additionally been an enormous a part of my life and has helped form me to who I’m as we speak,” she mentioned.
“There are actually some powerful elements about it however all in all once we completed this guide and went by every little thing there wasn’t part of me that had any remorse, I actually didn’t need to change something.”
Now months on from her resolution to retire from tennis, Barty reiterated she is proud of how every little thing has performed out.
“Completely no regrets (about retirement) — life’s been nice,” Barty mentioned.
“It’s every little thing I’ve ever wished. I really feel very lucky I’ve been in a position to stay out my childhood dream and have a profession for 20 years.
“It was one thing I beloved and now what excites me is our subsequent chapter and what that’s I’m not fairly certain but however the final six months, if it’s something to go by, it’s going to be a very enjoyable journey.
“A lot to lots of people’s disgust, the skilled athlete is completed, the tank is empty nevertheless it has been a whole lot of enjoyable ticking off just a few different issues that I used to be beloved to do. I’m a weekend hacker on the golf course, I like to get out with my mum and my girlfriends and that’s about so far as we go.”
