Wait and watch: Retired Ashleigh Barty coy about future plans

It sparked an outpouring of praise for the down-to-earth Australian, led by Serena Williams. Barty spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday since her announcement but repeatedly deflected questions on her future plans

Ashleigh Barty was coy about her future on Thursday, telling media “you’ll have to wait and see” as speculation mounts about what comes next after her shock retirement from tennis. The World No.1 and three-time Grand Slam champion stunned the tennis world on Wednesday by quitting aged just 25, saying she had fulfilled her dreams and was “spent physically”. It sparked an outpouring of praise for the down-to-earth Australian, led by Serena Williams. Barty spoke publicly for the first time on Thursday since her announcement but repeatedly deflected questions on her future plans.

‘Be patient, guys’

“You’ll have to wait and see, I’m not giving you everything right now. It’s alright, you can be patient. Patience is a virtue,” she told reporters in Brisbane. “We’ll see.”  Barty previously walked away from tennis to play in cricket’s Big Bash League, with local media speculating a return to the crease could be on the cards, or even becoming a professional golfer or playing Australian Rules. 

“I have seen some brilliant photoshops as a jockey, lawn bowls,” the multi-talented Barty joked. “I love sport, I’m a sport nut like a lot of Australians are. I’ll be lured to it. I have always been an athlete in the sense of trying different things, but we’ll see how we go.” She did confirm she wanted to work more with Indigenous Australians and spend time with her mum and dad, calling herself “a homebody”. “I have always wanted to have the time to contribute more in other ways,” Barty said. 

Marriage on the cards

“Now I have got that opportunity and I’ve been fortunate enough to have so many opportunities given to me from tennis, and now I’m ready to really give back in ways that I’m passionate about.” Marriage is on the horizon to long-term boyfriend Garry Kissick. A date has been set, but Barty would not say when.

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