Australian tennis great Todd Woodbridge believes Ash Barty was possibly the most talented female player of the last 20 years.
Barty announced her retirement at age 25 in an Instagram post that shocked Australia, and the tennis world.
The news was all the more surprising given Barty was the world’s No.1 female player, and the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion.
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“Absolutely blindsided by the announcement. But not completely shocked,” Woodbridge told Wide World of Sports in the aftermath.
“I’d always thought Ash wouldn’t play an extended career into her 30s, and I thought two or three more years would be what we would see out of her.
“But I didn’t expect to see her retire at 25.
“I’m not completely surprised, because she’s always played this sport on her own terms, and because of that has had the success that we’ve seen.”
Barty also won Roland-Garros in 2019, giving her three major titles and cementing her status as one of the biggest current stars of the game.
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The last two decades of women’s tennis have been dominated by American legend Serena Williams, while a host of rival players have spent years competing against the GOAT for titles.
But Woodbridge argues Barty might have been more skilful than them all.
“I think Ash, in the last 20 years of women’s tennis, is one of the most skilled players there’s been,” he said.
“There’s been more powerful – with the likes of Serena – there’s been more athletic, but (Barty’s) racquet skills for me have been sublime to watch.
“The sliced backhand, the volley, and the tactical awareness of what she needed to do in her matches.
“That’s what stood out for me and that made her so enjoyable to watch, so enjoyable to commentate.”
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