Launching her autobiography at Melbourne Park — scene of her Australian Open triumph in January simply two months earlier than her shock retirement announcement — the 26-year-old stated she had no want to return to high-level sport, and was certain she by no means would.
“Nope, I’m performed,” Barty advised Australian Related Press on Monday.
“You’ll be able to by no means say by no means however no. No, no, no. I’m performed.” The three-time Grand Slam singles winner, who spent 121 weeks with the highest rating, had performed skilled cricket with the Brisbane Warmth throughout a hiatus from tennis.
She additionally performs golf off a handicap of 4, prompting some observers to recommend she might pursue a future in that sport. However, launching her memoir “My Dream Time,” Barty insisted she was joyful along with her new, extra settled life off the WTA Tour, and had no skilled sports activities plan in thoughts.
“I miss competing and difficult myself towards the most effective of the world however I don’t miss quite a bit that comes with it,” she stated.
“I’m nonetheless aggressive with myself once I prepare at house. I nonetheless try to push myself however there’s no white-line fever any extra.
“And I by no means actually felt like there was this void that wanted to be crammed in as a result of there was a real sense of achievement on the finish of my profession.” Barty, who married long-time companion Garry Kissick in July, stated she was not sure what her future held, though she was already having fun with mentoring younger gamers — one thing which might level to a future function as Australian Billie Jean King Cup (previously Fed Cup) captain.
She stated that when she walked away from tennis for the primary time in 2014, she was “looking . . . looking for stimulation, I used to be looking for different issues.” “However now I don’t want that. Now I’ve in all probability understood and realized that I’ve had an especially full, fulfilling, unimaginable journey in my athletic {and professional} profession and now it’s time to shut that chapter,” she stated.