"Not surprised she's retiring" - Barbara Schett on Ashleigh Barty retirement

Eurosport expert Barbara Schett has said she was not particularly surprised by the Australian's announcement given her life priorities, all she has achieved and the tough travel restrictions.

Ashleigh Barty dropped a bombshell of a news into the tennis community when she announced that she was retiring at the age of 25. The Australian is leaving tennis at her peak having recently won the Australian Open in dominant fashion. Speaking to Eurosport, Barbara Schett said:

"I'm actually not surprised she's retiring. I always thought she was not going to have a very long career. She didn't love the game as much as other players did and she's not driven by success or money or anything like that so she's done it on the high of her game. Wow, what a champion."

Schett also explained taht she was certain that Bary would have called it quites at the end of 2022 regardless. In Schett's mind the US Open could have been her final event but in the end she's decided to do it way sooner. Schett also explained that for Barty the biggest goal was achieved by winning Wimbledon and after that she's sort of been calm about her will to retire.

Schett also noted that this time it's for good. She doesn't think Barty will ever return to tennis.