Ashleigh Barty was on top of the tennis world. She has spent a total of 121 weeks as the top-ranked WTA player, but she shocked everyone when she suddenly announced her retirement just one month shy of her 26th birthday.
The Australian had an auspicious start to this season with great WTA 2022 results – including her win in the Australian Grand Open last January – but she pulled out of Indian Wells and the Miami Open before making her decision to walk away from the sport.
When asked about it, Barty said that being away from her family for too long has taken a toll on her and that she wants to pursue other interests, although she said that she isn’t completely ruling out a possible return.
Because of her retirement, the No. 1 spot and the WTA 2022 odds has now shifted in favour of Iga Swiatek, who has been on a roll ever since – including a monster 37-match winning streak that lasted for almost half a year.
Today, allow SBOTOP to feature Barty’s tennis career, as well as some interesting tidbits about her life on and off the court.
She’s a fur mom
Let’s start on a light note with the fact that Ashleigh Barty has a love affair with dogs. She currently has five named Rudy, Maxi, Affie, Chino, and Origi, and she frequently shows them off on her social media accounts.
“Our house is run by dogs,” said Barty. “Coming home and cuddling my dogs on the couch is one of the most enjoyable things for me. They don’t care if I won or lost. They love me just the same.”
Barty became an ambassador for the RSPCA in 2018, a group that fights against animal cruelty. It was reported multiple times that the former World No. 1 donates some of her tennis proceeds to support the organization’s cause.
Starting the day right with coffee
Ashleigh Barty would always start her day by grabbing her caffeine fix. Just like her posts about her dogs, she also posts pictures of her sipping a cup of coffee wherever she goes.
“Ice bath, physio, coffee, and cricket. I’m good.” said Barty post-match during the 2019 Australian Open.
Melbourne is a place known for producing high quality coffee and she further added that drinking coffee offers her a sense of calm amid a hectic schedule.
“One of my absolute favorites is The Pound just off Chapel Street. I’ve known the owners for a long time now and it’s a little hideaway for me. I certainly love going there,” she said.
Built with a competitive edge
Ashleigh Barty’s parents were not into athletics as her dad Robert worked in the government while her mom Josie was a radiographer, but that didn’t stop her from pursuing sports.
In fact, she chose tennis out of defiance since her sisters Sara and Ali were better at her at netball and because she thought that netball was a “girls’ game”.
Barty wanted to work with Jim Joyce early on, but her longtime coach initially refused because she was too young at the time at five years old. Eventually, Joyce decided to make an exception because of her oozing potential.
By the time Barty was nine years old, she was practicing against boys who were six years older, and she was already taking on male adults at the age of 12.
She can play multiple sports
Besides netball, Barty has also shown the capability to play cricket and golf.
After the 2014 US Open, she announced her “first retirement” from tennis and pursued cricket under the tutelage of Andy Richards, who was the coach before for Queensland Fire. Barty went on to play one season for the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL.
Just recently, Barty competed in the Icons Series at Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey alongside the likes of Michael Phelps, Ben Roethlisberger, Harry Kane, and Canelo Alvarez. But after the star-studded event, she reiterated that golf is merely a hobby for her.
Barty, the Australian hero
Ashleigh Barty, an indigenous Australian herself, became an ambassador for indigenous tennis in Australia in 2018 where she regularly encourages the youth to play the sport.
Last June, she was announced as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honors, which is one of the highest accolades an Australian citizen can get.
Barty may no longer be bringing home Grand Slams and other tennis trophies, but she continues to win the hearts of many because she never stops in giving back to the community.
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