Australian Open champion’s decision to retire is an echo o Justine Henin’s decision to quit the sport when she was at the very top o her game PAUL NEWMAN
In an era dominated by athleticismand power, Bartywas a glorious exception G ood timing always was one of Ashleigh Barty’s great qualities. While the announcement of her retirement from tennis at the age of just 25 was a bombshell another break, this time of nearly a year, after the outbreak of the pandemic.
Both decisions proved beneficial in the long term. When Barty returned in 2016 she was soonmarching up the world rankings again. Three years later she won her first Grand Slam title: in another example of how she has always done things the Barty way, that triumph came onwhat youwould have thought would be her least favoured surface at the French Open. Not long afterwards she was crownedworld No 1. Similarly, being off the tour for most of 2020 appeared to have little effect on her tennis. Within sevenmonths of her return she wasWimbledon champion. In an agewhen power and athleticismhave often ruled inwomen’s tennis, Bartywas a glorious exception. Yes, she could strike the ball beautifully and yes, shewas a fine athlete, but at just 5ft 5in tall shewas never going to blowopponents off the court. Instead shewon
for everyone within the sport, in one sense it came at an appropriate moment. The record books will forever show that in her last match Barty won her home Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne, ending her country’s 42-year wait for a home-grown champion. For a proud and passionate Australian, there could hardly be a better way to go out. It was a reminder of how Pete Sampras never played again after winning the US Open for the last time 20 years ago. Barty always was one to go her ownway. Having emerged as a player of huge talent, she walked away from the sport in 2014 for 18months to go and play cricket, having decided that she needed a break from themental and emotional pressures of tennis. She took
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