Barty came, beat the game, and left
Ashleigh Barty retires at 25, leaves on top
Ashleigh Barty, the world No.1, has retired from tennis. She is 25 years old and the holder of two out of the last three Slams, the 2022 Australian Open and 2021 Wimbledon (also winning Roland Garros in 2019).
I’m so happy, I’m so ready, and I know at the moment, in my heart for me as a person, this is right.
I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself… I don’t have that in me anymore… I am spent. Physically (and emotionally) I have nothing more to give, and that for me is success. I have given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis, and I’m really happy with that.
Ash Barty the person has so many dreams she wants to chase after, that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home... I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person not Ash Barty the tennis player.
Full interview here.
The second sentence quoted, about knowing how much work it takes to ‘bring the best’ out of herself is something that’s probably often taken for granted in this current era. Especially in recent times, tennis has become accustomed to some of its biggest stars mixing staggering dominance with unheard of longevity. But there’s beauty too in shorter, intense bursts of greatness that reach above all challengers, while burning out more quickly.
There will be inevitable comparisons with other tennis stars who retired early. Perhaps most recently, Marion Bartoli retired at 28 years old, mere months after winning the 2012 Wimbledon title, tearfully declaring that "I have pain everywhere after 45 minutes or an hour of play. I've been doing this for so long. Body-wise, I can't do it any more." Björn Borg, who will inevitably be the most cited comparison to Barty’s retirement considering their similar ages at departure, left the game in 1983/84 as the all time Open Era Slam leader at the time1. Borg had recently lost to John McEnroe in the 1981 US Open final, in a less competitive affair than the two were usually known for in Slam finals, and then reportedly snuck through the Flushing Meadows kitchens, still in his tennis kit, on the way to the airport without talking to press. While Borg continued to train and play sporadically for a year or so after that final in New York, that moment was an obvious watershed. Borg later recalled feeling that “When you go out on the court, you should say this is great, I’m going to hit the tennis ball, I’m going to try to win every point, and I like to make a good shot… If you don’t think and feel that, it’s very difficult to play.”
The common threads here are normal people, temporarily disguised as untouchable superheroes of sport, reaching inextricably intertwined physical and mental limits. Tired from keeping the heaviest of balls rolling. That this reality, superhero costumes being seen as the temporary facade they are rather than the underlying skin, is becoming increasingly normalised is a good thing. Tennis failed Borg when he sought a change in the rules around the non-stop treadmill of tournament obligations, contributing to his burnout and first retirement. Despite progress, there’s probably still a way to go.
But comparisons are often boring and limited in usefulness. Barty tearfully noted earlier today ‘there’s no right way, there’s no wrong way, there’s just my way.’ Barty’s retirement is a nice reminder of how unique and self-determinant humans are. For now, she has accomplished all she wanted to in tennis and leaves content, ready for new challenges. That some will view this as a sad moment of unrealised potential, while she appears earnestly happy and satisfied, is testament to that uniqueness.
A natural sporting freak of ability, Barty’s talent to turn her hand-eye coordination to other endeavours, like taking up professional cricket during a hiatus from tennis in 2015, makes her one of those rare sporting polymaths. Barty played in 13 matches for the Western Suburbs cricket side, scoring one century, averaging 42 runs, and taking eight wickets. She had no competitive cricket training until she was 18. If that transferable ability is any hint, we can probably look forward to further, successful chapters in Barty’s career, whatever they may be.
One comparison with Borg that I do like is their respective play-style advantages. Barty has terrorised the elite woman’s game in recent years with variety and slice, on top of the essential modern weapons of an effective serve and forehand. No current player could readily solve Barty’s game when she was at her best. Borg ushered in elements of topspin, movement and more modern grips, that would end up becoming standard, but that gave him interesting, from-the-future, edges against the field during his best years. Barty’s variety advantage won’t become the norm in the way that Borg’s spin and baseline craft did. If anything some of her tools hark back to the past rather than laying a path to the future. But beating the game with tools that few, fellow peers can wield, is always a rare and fascinating part of an athlete’s legacy.
I hope Barty finds continued happiness in her life away from ‘Ash Barty the tennis player’. And if she does decide to come back to this sport, none would be too surprised with another successful spell. Regardless of whether that happens, Barty inarguably burned brightly and brilliantly. Tennis, as with all its champions, is richer for having had her use its canvass for self-expression and ability. But, as Barty seems acutely aware, there are many canvasses.
Barty came, beat the game, and left. More accurately, she returned home.
— MW
Twitter: @mattracquet
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Top: Clive Brunskill/Getty, Bottom: Scott Barbour/Tennis Australia via Getty
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Borg tried to comeback nearly a decade after first retiring, but the game had moved on too much.
Nice piece. I shall miss her - one of my favourite players to watch of recent years. One thing her retirement does make me wonder is which player retired while holding the most singles Slam titles - I can think of plenty who held 1, but few with 2 to their name like Barty (Henin held the FO and USO at the time of her 2008 retirement, but came back in 2010).
Thanks a million, Matthew, for a timely and excellent piece on a remarkable lady and a remarkable player.
To Ashleigh Barty :
Please do chase as many dreams as you wish to as the truly exceptional Ash Barty the person you are indeed.
It was an immense privilege for us to be given the opportunity to watch the truly exceptional Ash Barty the tennis player you are indeed.
Please do accept our deep gratitude for providing us a fleeting feeling at the boundless courage, belief and confidence driving both exceptional dimensions of Ashleigh Barty.
Tennis planets shall remember forever both at and in their hearts and minds.