Barty’s coach, Craig Tyzzer, said the world No.1’s retirement was not a shock to him.
Speaking alongside the player, he said he did not think there was “anything left in the tank” for her, and after Wimbledon, he started to see her mindset change.
“I sort of felt that she climbed where she needed to get to, and it was going to be a hard slog to keep her involved. And yes, I sort of felt it was coming, and we’d sort of discussed things,” he said.
Ash Barty and coach Craig Tyzzer at the retirement media conference in Brisbane today.Credit:Eddie Jim
Tyzzer said Barty wanted to retire the way she wanted to do it, and while she was a tennis player, that’s not who she is.
“There’s lots of other elements to her life, so I just know that she’s made the right decision for her,” the coach said.
He said Barty’s career was never about her successes; it was about fulfilling her dreams.
Barty reiterated she was spent after the Open, saying, “I didn’t feel quite as well as I would have liked.
“I didn’t get to get back on board until a couple of weeks ago,” she said. “So I mean … we’re not hiding behind anything.
“The thing is, I have given everything that I can to the sport – I’m absolutely spent and just have nothing more to give, and I’m really excited now for what comes next.”