Leading tennis commentator Sam Smith said she’s concerned the player who will likely replace Ash Barty as world No.1 is “not quite ready for it.”
Barty confirmed she will ask the WTA to remove her name from the rankings when they’re next updated, following the completion of the current tournament in Miami.
That means the Roland-Garros champion of 2020, Iga Swiatek, is almost certain to become the new world No.1. The 20-year-old was also a semi-finalist at this year’s Australian Open.
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Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Smith said Swiatek, along with other top-five players like Barbora Krejcikova and Aryna Sabalenka, would see Barty’s retirement as a double-edged sword.
“I think they’ll all be very disappointed, they’ll be happy for her, but I think they’ll have wanted to test themselves against the best,” she explained.
“For me the downside is Swiatek will be the number one player in the world, and I think she’s fab, but she’s not as good as Ash, and I don’t know that she’s quite ready for it.
“The same thing happened when Justine Henin quit (in 2008), and Ana Ivanovic became the number one player, and she wasn’t ready for it.
“Swiatek will cope, but it’s putting someone at number one who’s not quite there. But that’s not Ash’s problem.”
Swiatek took out the prestigious Indian Wells tournament earlier this month, but Smith said the pressure that comes with the number one ranking can derail a player who’s not prepared for it, noting how Barty handled the position so well.
“One thing I’ve learned with Ash is she does not allow the success, the media, everything that goes on around her, to control her,” she pointed out.
“She’d done a brilliant job of holding the reigns. She’s a very smart young woman.
“When they get this level of success and fame so quickly, you see athletes losing control so quickly.
“She has absolutely stayed true to what she feels is right. She doesn’t chase money or fame. She’s in charge.
“It’s very disappointing for everyone who loves tennis, but this is what she wants.”
Smith spoke previously to Wide World of Sports about the “beauty and artistry” of Barty’s game, and noted that her retirement means she will leave the game having not defended any of her three Grand Slam titles.
Barty missed the Roland-Garros tournament in 2020, and retires as the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion.
“It’s a shame that she didn’t get to go back onto centre court, she would have opened centre court at Wimbledon this summer, we have that lovely tradition, and she would have gone back to Australia in January as the defending champion, that would have been really special,” Smith said.
“To go back to those two Grand Slams as defending champion would have been something, Wimbledon because of the history and the way the defending champion is treated, and Melbourne because it’s her home event.
“But I’m sure she’s thought of that. Not all athletes want to play until their 30s. It’s very strong minded of her to do this.”
“I think she’s one of the most self-aware athletes in the world,” Smith added.
“Most athletes wouldn’t be conscious enough of what fulfilled them, especially at that age.
“At 25 she’s got it all figured out. There’s those of us twice her age still trying to figure it out and she’s left us floundering!
“She knows what makes her tick and what she wants. Most athletes are not that far down the line, they think their sport is everything. She’s fulfilled by other things.
“I think there are so many athletes who would love to make different decisions but they’re pulled in different directions and by the end they don’t know who they are, and they’re quite unhappy.
“She’s in charge. It’s her life.”
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