Ash Barty reveals what has shocked her most about retirement
Ash Barty has revealed what has surprised her most about retirement since walking off the court for good last January.
The former world number one quit her stellar tennis career at the height of her powers following her Australian Open win last January, and has rejected all suggestions that she might return to professional sport in the future.
Barty, 26, has absolutely no regrets about her decision to retire, saying she has been "surprised" by how comfortable she is now.
"To be honest, I think what has surprised me most is how comfortable I've been," she told the New York Times.
"I think there was probably a normal fear or uncertainty in not knowing what my life would look like after tennis after being so focused."
"I was a bit unsure how I would deal with that because I am a person who likes to be organised. There was probably a little bit of fear in that, but overall, that hasn't been an issue, a concern or a worry."
"What's been surprising in a good way is that I've slipped quite seamlessly into this life that's just like everyone else. Which is kind of always what I wanted."
While Barty is adamant she will not return to play the sport at a professional level, she is staying involved with the tennis world by starting up an elite academy in Australia with Jason Stoltenberg and Craig Tizzer, and says she's interested in mentoring, but not coaching, junior players.
"The more time I've had to sit and think and absorb this year, I think it is never in the sense of me competing professionally again," she said.
"But I'll never not be involved in the sport. So I think that's where I'll always get my tennis fix, that taste of the sport that gave me so much."
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