Ash Barty’s emotions clear on Serena Williams retirement U-turn after motherhood

Caroline Wozniacki’s return to skilled tennis after changing into a mom has delighted her outdated pal Ash Barty, however the Australian insists that she has no intention of following her lead.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Barty pulled a shock when she introduced her retirement from the sport in March 2022 on the age of 26, changing into solely the second participant ever to stop the game while being world No 1, after Justine Henin.

She has since married Australian golfer Garry Kissick and gave beginning to their son in July this yr. Wozniacki returned to the WTA Tour this summer time after a two-year hiatus, throughout which she gave beginning to 2 kids.

She reached the fourth spherical of the US Open this month to a lot acclaim however was defeated by eventual champion Coco Gauff. The Dane’s return mirrors that of all-time nice Serena Williams, who rejoined the tour after having her first little one, however though Barty was delighted to see he outdated pal again out on the courtroom, she is greater than content material to focus on motherhood.

Speaking at a celebration occasion marking the return of the Brisbane International on the Queensland Tennis Centre, alongside fellow Oz tennis legend Pat Rafter, Barty stated: “I don’t have the time to train, prepare and have so many good memories on this court and I get to create new ones now. Certainly not. Pat might be more likely than me (to make a comeback).”

Williams’ personal exit and return from tennis was nothing in need of dramatic. She received the Australian Open in January 2017 earlier than discovering that she had been eight months pregnant on the time.

After giving beginning to her daughter Qai Qai the next September, she then spent six weeks in hospital following supply problems however nonetheless returned to the courts in time for the French Open the next yr.

But as a lot as Barty admires the 23-time Grand Slam champion and Wozniacki, a sporting return may be very a lot off the desk for herself.

“I’m not coming back,” she informed the West Australian. “I was really happy for Caro; a dear friend of mind and seeing her back doing what she loves is awesome. She has a couple of kids a bit older than Hayden (Barty’s son) but I am not coming back, no.”

Barty received the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021 earlier than rounding off her comparatively quick however profitable profession with a fairytale triumph on the Australian Open in 2022. She spent 121 weeks on the prime of world rankings.