That winning feeling Ashleigh Barty with the trophy after winning this year’s Australian Open (left) and on the practice court with Craig Tyzzer, her coach
matches with guile and grace, constructing points beautifully tomanoeuvre herself intowinning positions. While she had bucketloads of natural talent, Barty also worked her socks off. It was always fascinating to watch one of her practice sessions with Craig Tyzzer, her coach, who was such a wonderful influence on her career. Although the sessions would often endwith a little fun as they kicked a football around or played a bit of Aussie rules, that would only come after they had put in the hardwork. In announcing her retirement on Instagram, Barty revealed her exhaustion after putting somuch into her sport. “I knowhowmuchwork it takes to bring the best out of yourself,” she said. “I don’t have that inme any more. I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level anymore. I am spent.” Barty’s retirement as world No 1 recalls Justine Henin’s decision to quit the sport in 2008.The Belgian was also 25 andworld No 1 at the time, havingwon seven Grand Slam titles. Shemade a comeback two years later and had some success, reaching an AustralianOpen final, but never added to her Grand Slamcollection. What will Barty do next? Simona Halep, who said she criedwhen she heard Barty’s news, was not the only person to speculate onwhether theWimbledon championmight now turn her attention to golf. Her fiancé, Gary Kissick, is a golfer and her father once represented Australia in amateur golf, while Barty herself has shown plenty of talent for the sport. Two years ago, during the pandemic, she became women’s champion at Brookwater Golf Club, while TigerWoods watched admiringly when she hit a wedge shot on to a
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