Former World No.1 Ashleigh Barty quickly shuts down comeback question: "No chance"

Sunday, 03 May 2026 at 08:42

Ashleigh Barty soon announced her retirement from tennis after lifting the 2022 Australian Open title

Ashleigh Barty has long been asked about a potential comeback with the former World No.1 abruptly retiring in order to start a family and left the sport behind after accomplishing everything.

But given that she has left the sport before only to come back it is perhaps valid to assume that she could find her way back at some point. Speaking though at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Surfing Championships, she quickly shut it down saying: "No chance" when asked by the reporter.

She turned 30 last week and it seems like yesterday when she decided in 2022 at the age of just 25 to walk away. She won her home slam the Australian Open then she walked away weeks later and since then she has given birth to two children in son Hayden and daughter Jordan. This with long-time partner now husband Garry Kissick.

But she has since denied any notion of a comeback whenever asked and seems content with her life. Whether the fire burns still Is another matter with Barty not fully detached from tennis life. She has often popped in to play at Australian Open events.

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Given that there has not really been a top Aussie star since she left the sport on the women's side with Alex de Minaur in the men's still carrying the candle, she is often brought back for pre tournament exhibitions and so isn't fully gone. But the comeback is very much unlikely once again.

She did take a break once in 2015 to embark on a professional cricket career before returning in 2016 but the difference realistically is that she achieved everything she needed to during that prior run and so she doesn't need to come back. So it would be solely if she had the fire to do so.

But heading into the next Grand Slam, Swiatek took over then it was Aryna Sabalenka so a lot has changed and would she even get the same type of level as she did before and still be a top player. Guess it will never be known.

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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

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