By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Ash Barty's sudden retirement stunned her peers and reduced Iga Swiatek to tears.

Indian Wells champion Swiatek said she cried "for a long time" in sadness after learning of Barty's retirement last night.

More: Ash Barty's Career by the Numbers

"You already know that I like to cry, so I was crying for a long time," Swiatek told the media in Miami today. "Yeah, I mean, there was lot of confusion in me, for sure. But also, like, sadness because when I think of the player that is really complete in terms of physicality, mentality, tennis-wise, I always thought of Ash and I always looked up to her. I mean, I still do.

"It would be really nice also to be able to compete against her for next few years and actually try to play better and better, to be able to beat her slice.

"Yeah, I mean, we're going to miss her, for sure."

World No. 2 Swiatek can rise to No. 1 in short order if Barty chooses to submit the paperwork to remove herself from the WTA rankings where she remains world No. 1.

Why would retiring players opt to remain on the rankings list?

During Tennis Channel's coverage of Indian Wells, Grand Slam champions and TC analysts Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan revealed the reason they have not submitted their official ATP retirement paperwork is simple: by remaining active they can continue to draw ATP health insurance.

It's unclear right now if Barty plans to remove herself from the rankings.

Either way, 2020 Roland Garros champion Swiatek, who bowed to Barty 7-5, 6-4 in Madrid last May, is in prime position to succeed the Aussie as new world No. 1. Swiatek said she respects Barty's decision to go out on top.



"I really respect and I really think she's brave that she has made this decision because with all the expectations around, I mean, there is not many people who would stop at this point and put their happiness on the first place," Swiatek said. "I think that's an example not only for us tennis players or another athletes, but every person that they should put their own happiness.

"If they are satisfied or not satisfied, they should think about their goals, not really what world thinks, yeah. But that's really hard when you're professional athlete. That's why I really respect that."

Two-time Miami Open champion Barty will lose 1,000 ranking points after the Miami Open ends, while Swiatek trails the three-time Grand Slam champion by just 1,159 ranking points in the live rankings.

Barring injury, it's a matter of time before Swiatek becomes the first Polish player to rise to world No. 1. 

Seeing Barty depart evoked tears of sadness, while Swiatek will likely shed tears of joy when she officially takes over as No. 1.

"To be honest, at first it was really emotional for me. I didn't know about all the rules," Swiatek said. "I actually didn't even know you could choose being removed because I didn't follow any other athletes that were retiring. They were so high that it actually had a difference...

"Well, for sure it would be for me something special to be world No. 1. I never expected that, if it's going to happen it's going to happen that way.

"Actually after Indian Wells it became my goal. It's pretty weird for it to be my goal for two days and it may actually happen that quick. But still it's a longshot because it's her decision. I think we got to wait for her to speak about that."

Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty