Former world number 1, Ash Barty, has announced her unexpected return to the tennis court at Wimbledon. She will be partnering with her close friend and former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua. Barty retired in 2022 to start a family, but will be making a one-time appearance at the esteemed event next month.
The announcement has been met with enthusiasm from fans and fellow players. Barty, who has not played since her abrupt retirement in March 2022, will be taking part in the legends’ invitational doubles event on Tuesday, July 9th. The event will feature women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Barty, who previously claimed victory in the French Open in 2019 and the Australian Open in 2022, surprised the tennis world with her retirement. Since then, she has gotten married and become a mother to her son, Hayden. While she did participate in a pro-am golf tournament in New Zealand, this will mark her first return to the tennis court since leaving the sport.
The reunion with Dellacqua holds special significance as the duo has a history of success together, reaching three grand slam finals, including the Wimbledon final in 2013. Dellacqua expressed her excitement about teaming up with Barty, stating “The band’s back together, ABCD. I’m actually really excited about it.”
Both Barty and Dellacqua are now in a different stage of their lives, with children and different focuses, but their passion for tennis remains unchanged. Dellacqua added that despite their busy lives, tennis has always been the glue that has kept them together.
The legends tournament at Wimbledon features a round-robin format with eight pairs across two groups. The top teams will progress to the final, with each pair guaranteed a substantial prize. Additionally, Barty has also announced that she will be a part of the BBC’s TV commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon tournament.
The news of Barty’s return has generated a great deal of anticipation, and fans are eagerly looking forward to seeing her back on the court. Her decision to make a one-time comeback to play alongside her dear friend has been described as heartwarming and has certainly added an extra layer of excitement to Wimbledon this year.