Ash Barty: ‘What I miss the most is the thrill of the fight’

F ifteen months since deciding to step away from professional tennis, Ash Barty cuts a relaxed figure in the back yard of her Brisbane home as her beloved dogs play in the background and the former world No 1 contemplates the next chapter of her life. A recent dip in temperature in south-east Queensland has brought some relief to the expectant mother who, after a whirlwind year that has belied her expectations of retirement, will “shut up shop” after completing a final ambassadorial role on Monday.

The three-time grand slam champion, who is pregnant with her first child, has found the 15 months since she decided to step away from professional tennis both exciting and challenging. From publishing her autobiography My Dream Time to mentoring young players such as the rising star Olivia Gadecki, from competing in a golf exhibition in the United States to her coming role as the face of the Australian Made Week campaign, Barty has been busier than she could ever have imagined.

“There were periods where I felt like I had no idea what I was doing and then there were other periods where I felt like there weren’t enough hours in the day,” she says. “The book tour … was a big project that took a lot of time and took a lot of energy. We wanted to do it well, but emotionally and mentally, it probably sapped more out of me than I realised.

“But it was awesome. I think it was a really nice way to kind of have that line in the sand, to literally close the chapter and look to what’s next. Then a few months ago, our world and our future was tipped on its head [with the pregnancy]. It’s been challenging. But it’s also been unique and, probably, everything I could have asked for.”

The 27-year-old has travelled extensively across