By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday July 10, 2024
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
Wimbledon—Revisiting the past can be an enjoyable journey for champions.
Ashleigh Barty has no intention of trying to recreate her competitive career.
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Former world No. 1 Barty, who is serving as a BBC analyst during the Wimbledon fortnight, returned to Centre Court as a player on Wednesday.
Barty and buddy Casey Dellacqua rallied past Andrea Petkovic and Magdalena Rybarikova 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 in a Ladies Invitational Doubles victory that came exactly three years to the day after Barty captured the Wimbledon ladies’ singles crown.
“It's good fun,” Barty said afterward. “There are so many ladies that I played with, played with years ago, played with more recently. Some obviously a lot more recently retired than others.
“It is just nice to be back out doing what I love. I mean, I love playing tennis. I love being able to have the balance now to bring my family with me for them to experience it as well.”
So could Barty extend the experience and commit to a full-fledged WTA Tour comeback?
Fellow former Grand Slam champions and moms Angelique Kerber, Caroline Wozniack and Serena Williams each staged returns after giving birth.
When it comes to comeback talk, Barty, who gave birth to son Hayden on July 2nd, 2023, just says No.
“You guys are killing me,” a smiling Barty said when asked if she’s planning a comeback. “I don't know how much more. Anyone have a thesaurus for a word that I can use for 'no'?
"No.”
Controlling the center of the court when it counted, Barty defused Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3 to capture her first Wimbledon championship and second Grand Slam crown on July 10th, 2021.
"It was the most incredible feeling I think I've ever experienced on a tennis court," Barty said after raising the Rosewater Dish. "There was certainly disbelief. I think I've worked so hard my whole career with my team and with people that mean the most to me to try and achieve my goals and my dreams. To be able to do that today was incredible."
A decade after winning the Wimbledon girls' title as a wide-eyed 15-year-old on her first trip to SW19, Barty unleashed her all-court arsenal joining Ann Jones, Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo as the fourth junior champion to raise the Rosewater Dish.
Reflecting on that moment three years later, Barty said it was a life-altering experience.
“It changed so much in my life,” Barty said. “It was my dream. It was my childhood dream to win this tournament, to win The Championships. I was able to do that. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to play on such a beautiful court on a Saturday afternoon that every athlete wants to play. It was really nice to go out there today and reminisce a little bit.
“Obviously there have been a few changes around here the last two or three years. It's nice to come in and settle in like everyone else. It was really enjoyable to go out there. It feels very different when you're under the microscope in a singles final to when you're out there with your best mate.”
Overall, Barty won three Grand Slam singles titles—2019 Roland Garros, 2021 Wimbledon and 2022 Australian Open—and reached doubles finals at all four majors, partnering Coco Vandeweghe to the 2018 US Open doubles championship.
Asked if she’s hit with current pros to test her level during this return to SW19, the owner of 15 career titles offered immediate response.
“No, mate. There is no level,” Barty said with a smile. “Mate, no. I've got a chisel and that's about it at the moment. That's what we're working with.”
These days, Barty says she finds herself watching more tennis the past two weeks than her days as world No. 1.
“I didn't watch a lot of it because I lived it every single day. It was absorbing and consuming every single moment of my professional career,” Barty said of her days on Tour. “Now I've been removed for two and a half years, however long it's been, and I haven't watched much.
“Now it's jumping back in. Some things are different; some things haven't changed. I love tennis. I love being here. I love being involved. Now I just get to pick and choose in small doses, which is really nice."