Brutal moment Ash Barty slaps down reporter trying to get the bottom of why the tennis champion is REALLY retiring – as she reveals her niece’s cheeky response when she told her she’d quit
- World no.1 Barty announced her shock retirement from tennis on Wednesday
- In a press conference Barty said she had ‘no secrets’ about reason for retiring
Ash Barty has shut down a persistent reporter trying to get the bottom of the reason behind the tennis champion’s shock retirement.
The women’s world No.1 announced on Wednesday she’d be pulling the plug on her incredible career, six months after claiming the Wimbledon title last year.
The 25-year-old said she had nothing left in the tank and had no regrets about her time on the court but knew it was time to ‘put the rackets down’.
When asked if there was another reason behind her retirement, Barty made it clear she would not be giving anything away.
Ash Barty announced her shock retirement on Wednesday. She is currently the world no.1
The tennis great said she had ‘no secrets’ as to the reason behind her shock retirement. On Wednesday she said she’d given ‘absolutely everything’ she had to the sport and was ready to step away
‘You have to wait and see. I’m not giving you everything right now. It’s alright. You can be patient. Patience is a virtue,’ she said in a press conference on Thursday.
When asked the same question just moments later, Barty again told the reporter ‘you’ll have to wait and see’.
‘Be patient. It’s alright.’
When pressed for more answers, Barty held her ground and said she had ‘no secrets’.
‘I’ve said exactly what I wanted to say. I’m an open book. I’m not hiding anything, I’ve got no secrets,’ she said.
‘I am just so proud of all of the work that I have done with my team. We have done this together right from the start, have enjoyed every single minute and, like I said, we have no regrets.’
The women’s world No 1 was visibly emotional as she made the shock announcement
She said that having won Wimbledon, her stellar performance at the Australian Open where she took the title was the perfect way to wrap up her career.
Barty grabbed the world No.1 spot on June 24, 2019, and never relinquished it with high finishes in Grand Slams for the next two-and-a-half years.
She thanked the support from her family and loved ones, adding her niece was happy aspiring tennis stars may now have a shot at being number one.
‘My eldest niece, just said to me, she goes, “Oh, that’s nice. It will be nice to see someone else at number one”,’ Barty said.
The 25-year-old said she’s looking forward to what the next chapter will hold for her and fiancee Garry Kissick, but gave no clues away as to when or where the wedding may be.
More to come