Former world number one
Ashleigh Barty is reportedly planning to
have another baby instead of returning to professional tennis. The 28-year-old
surprisingly announced her retirement from the sport back in 2022 at the age of
just 26.
Some rumours on social media suggested that Barty might well
be planning a return to the court after a gap of two years but a source close
to her rejected those rumours and suggested that the Ipswich-born is instead planning
to have another baby. “Ash is bursting to have another bub. With Hayden's
birthday coming up, a surprise announcement could come at any moment,” the
source said.
Barty had a very successful but short career at the highest
level. The former world number one won three Grand Slams before calling it
quits. Her first major triumph was the French Open in 2019 where she defeated Marketa
Vondrousova in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3. She then
went on to win Wimbledon in 2021 after beating Karolina Pliskova in the final
with a score of 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3. Barty’s last major triumph came in 2022
when she defeated America’s Danielle Collins in the final in straight sets with
a score of 6-3, 7-6 to lift the Australian Open title.