I sensed something was wrong and it was just not the result of the rules and mandates surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. There was something missing in Ashleigh Barty’s demeanor, and I could not quite put my finger on it. There was also a sense that she was giving it all she had to win the Australian Open and leave on that high note.
Embed from Getty ImagesNot Psychic, I Just Noticed A Slight Change
It was a gut feeling that I sometimes get when I watch tennis. It was a feeling that Ashleigh Barty was done with tennis. Not that she did not love tennis anymore, but the season for her to play professional tennis was over. So, as much as it was a shock still to see her announcement early this morning, I was like, “okay.” Barty turned professional in 2010.
Embed from Getty ImagesWill Barty Change Her Mind Like She Did Before?
After all, she walked away from tennis before. In 2014 to 2016, Barty took a hiatus from tennis to play cricket in Australia; however, she returned to tennis in 2017. Barty got to the top of the WTA Tour. For 114 consecutive weeks she was ranked number one and accumulated 121 weeks in total as the number one ranked player. Yet, somehow, I do not think she will change her mind.
Ashleigh Barty’s Tennis Accomplishments
She leaves as the top ranked player with fifteen singles titles, three of which were majors. She has also accumulated twelve doubles titles with various partners over the years. She claimed the US Open doubles championship with American, Coco Vandeweghe in 2018. There has been a scarcity of consistency at the top aside from Barty. Who will step up and be consistent?
Wishing Her All The Best In Her Next Chapter
There is a saying, “there is a time and a season for everything in life.” Some seasons are brief, and some seasons are enduring. When the season is over, it is best to let go gracefully and move on. That is what Ashleigh Barty in doing. She is gracefully moving on, and though it may seem sudden to the outside world, it was not. She has probably been thinking about it for a while and knows herself well enough to realize not only does she not have what it takes to continue to compete at the top, she no longer wants to. Wishing her all the best in her future endeavors.
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