Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday July 10, 2024
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Wimbledon-Revisiting the past can be a fun adventure for the champion.
Ashleigh Barty he has no intention of trying to revive his competitive career.
More: Hip Injury Knocks de Minaur out of Wimbledon
Former world No. 1 Barty, who is working as a commentator for the BBC during the Wimbledon fortnight, returned to Center Court as a player on Wednesday.
Barty and friend Casey Delacqua it has passed Andrea Petkovic again Magdalena Rybarikova 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 in a Ladies Invitational Doubles victory that came exactly three years to the day after Barty took the Wimbledon ladies' singles crown.
“It's fun,” Barty said afterward. “There are many ladies I played with, I played with them years ago, I played with them recently. Some are obviously more recently retired than others.
“It's nice to go back and do what I love. I mean, I like to play tennis. I love being able to have balance now so I can manage my family and myself so they can feel that too.”
So can Barty extend the experience and commit to a full WTA Tour comeback?
Other former Grand Slam champions and mothers Angelique Kerber, Caroline Woznick and Serena Williams each returned to the stage after giving birth.
When it comes to returning, Barty, who gave birth to son Hayden on July 2, 2023, says No.
“You guys are killing me,” said a smiling Barty when asked if he planned to return. “I don't know how much. Does anyone have a thesaurus for the word 'no' that I can use?
“No.”
Controlling the center of the court when it counted, Barty fainted Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 to claim her first Wimbledon championship and second Grand Slam crown on July 10, 2021.
Time @AshBartyChildhood dreams all come true#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/gxMxphj4qk
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 10, 2021
“It was the most amazing feeling I think I've ever had on a tennis court,” Barty said after lifting the Rosewater Dish. “Of course there was disbelief. I think I've worked hard my whole career with my team and people who mean a lot to me to try to achieve my goals and my dreams. To be able to do that today was amazing.”
Ten years after she won the Wimbledon girls' title as a 15-year-old in her first trip to SW19, Barty left a field that included Ann Jones, Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo as the fourth youngest champion to grow the group. A bowl of Rosewater.
Reflecting on that moment three years later, Barty said it was a life-changing experience.
“It's changed a lot in my life,” said Barty. “It was my dream. It was my dream as a child to win this tournament, to win The Championships. I was able to do that. I was lucky enough to be able to play on a beautiful field on a Saturday afternoon where every athlete wants to play. It was really nice to get out there today and reminisce a bit.
“Obviously there have been quite a few changes here in the last two or three years. It's nice to settle in like everyone else. It was really exciting to get out there. It feels so different from being under the microscope in the singles finals to being out there with your best mate.”
In total, Barty won three Grand Slam singles titles—2019 Roland Garros, 2021 Wimbledon and the 2022 Australian Open—and reached the doubles finals at all four majors, partnering Coco Vandeweghe in the 2018 US Open doubles championship. .
Asked if he had the most current experience to assess his quality during the return to SW19, the holder of 15 career titles was quick to respond.
“No, friend. There is no standard,” said Barty with a smile. “Friend, no. I have a chisel and that's about it for now. That's what we're working on.”
These days, Barty says he finds himself watching more tennis in the last two weeks than in his days as world No. 1.
“I didn't watch it much because I was living it every day. It's been interesting and time-consuming for my professional career,” Barty said of his days on Tour. “Now I'm two and a half years removed, however long, and I haven't watched much.
Now it's going backwards. Some things are different; some things have not changed. I like tennis. I love being here. I love to be involved. Now I just pick and choose with smaller doses, which is really good.”
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