BRISBANE, Australia (AP) —Ash Barty finished 2022 the way she started it — in the spotlight.
There will be no Barty Party at Melbourne Park this time around, though, because it's been 10 months since she retired at age 25 while the No. 1-ranked woman in tennis.
When the Australian Open gets started next week, Barty won't be defending the title she won last January for her third Grand Slam trophy to become the first player from the host country to win the tournament in 44 years. Indeed, as she just made clear via social media, Barty has more important things on her mind: She and her new husband are expecting a baby.
And although the history of her sport is filled with examples of players leaving, then returning to the tour — something she herself did as a teenager — the 26-year-old Barty says she has no plans to make a comeback.
"In my mind, there was never going to be a perfect ending, but it was my perfect ending," Barty said recently. "It was never about finishing on a win or on a really high emotional feeling. It was just about: Collectively, I felt it was right. Now (that decision) has led to nine months of just an incredible life off the court. It's been amazing."