Ashleigh Barty won't be joining returning mothers on WTA Tour, rules out comeback again: "There's nothing keeping me away"

Ashleigh Barty will not be joining Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniacki or Naomi Osaka in particular in returning to the WTA Tour anytime soon with this time of year since the former World No.1's sudden retirement always seeing questions asked of Australia's greatest female tennis export of recent years and whether she will return.

Barty retired suddenly in 2022 and became a mother citing that she had achieved all she wanted to achieve in the sport and at the age of only 25, she left it all behind albeit she has maintained her role in tennis especially during the Australian Open so hasn't shunned it completely.

Speaking during the tournament, Barty admitted that she misses parts of tour life but mainly her friends and many of whom are not playing any more and have retired so like her have moved on to new chapters. She also said basically that there is nothing stopping her returning so it is very much if she wanted to, she would.

"I miss parts of it, but mostly I miss seeing my mates. I miss seeing the girls that I've built such a relationship with over so many years, but a lot of my best mates have also retired now and they're kind of moving on to their next chapters," said Barty to the West Australian.

"We'll still get out there and hit occasionally if anyone asks or any of my mates ask. But no, I'm enjoying what I'm doing now. There's nothing keeping me away. It's not like I'm doing things to keep myself away from the court. I want be able to be there to raise Hayden and I want to be able to enjoy that."

"That's what I want to do, plain and simple. That's where my priorities lie now. I absolutely love being mum. There's nothing else that I prefer to do."