“I don’t miss living out of a suitcase, that’s for sure”: Ashleigh Barty shares honest thoughts nearly four years after retirement

Former world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty spoke openly about what she misses — and what she does not — from her career on the WTA Tour as 2025 came to a close. The three-time Grand Slam champion is approaching four years since her retirement, having played her final tournament at the 2022 Australian Open before officially announcing the end of her career in March of that year. With time and distance from the tour, Barty now reflects on her decision with clarity rather than nostalgia.

Rather than expressing regret, Barty framed her retirement as a natural transition, shaped by gratitude for having experienced both the intensity of elite competition and the calm of life away from it. Her perspective is no longer tied to rankings, results, or expectations, but to a broader appreciation of what tennis gave her and what stepping away has allowed her to gain.

“There’s plenty that I miss about playing and there’s plenty that I also don’t miss, and I think it’s only because I’ve been so grateful to have experienced both being in the thick of it and now also being able to enjoy it as a spectator,” Barty said to The New Daily Australia.

Looking back on her career, Barty emphasized that what stayed with her most was not the biggest matches or trophies, but the everyday moments shared with the people around her. Those quieter experiences, often unseen by fans, were the foundation of her time on tour and left a lasting impression long after she stopped competing. “It’s [missing] probably the little moments where your team comes together.”

For Barty, her strongest memories were built during training blocks and long days of preparation rather than on match courts alone. “You’re on the practice court together, you’re in the gym. You’re really doing the hard yards together and you’re pushed to some really tricky places and you come through that as one.”

Competition itself still holds a special place in her reflections, particularly when it came with a sense of familiarity and comfort at home in Australia. “Then the super fun part is when you just get to go out there and compete. And for a lot of the Brissie athletes, particularly starting at the Brisbane International, it’s a really fun way to do that at home in front of your friends and family.”

While Barty spoke fondly about competition, she was equally direct about the parts of tour life she does not miss. Constant travel and extended time away from home were always challenging, and retirement has allowed her to embrace a lifestyle far better suited to her personality. “But something that I always appreciated was that we had the opportunity to play at home.”

She also acknowledged that playing in familiar surroundings is not something every player on tour experiences, making those opportunities even more meaningful for Australian athletes, particularly those from Queensland.

“Not every single girl in the world gets an opportunity to play in their backyard so for those Queenslanders, especially, it’s a special week,” the former world No. 1 added. “Regardless of whether you win or lose, you just get to come out here and get yourself sorted and play, enjoy, compete in front of your friends and family. It’s pretty fun.”

Away from competition, Barty has fully embraced life at home. The physical demands of travel and living week-to-week in different countries are not something she looks back on fondly. “I don’t miss living out of a suitcase, that’s for sure,” the Aussie former player stated.

Family now defines her daily life and long-term focus, replacing training schedules and match preparation. “I love spending time with my kids, my sisters and my nieces and nephew. I’m very, very happy living a boring, happy life,” she added. “Obviously my No.1 priority and focus at the moment is being able to enjoy my kids and my family, and watch them grow and see them develop.”