THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 10, 2024

Ashleigh Barty

Press Conference

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Hello, everyone (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Ash, how does it feel to be back at Wimbledon?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, incredible. Obviously this is the place that holds some of my most cherished memories, and really nice to be back with my best mate on the court. It's pretty special.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How did it feel to be back on Centre Court?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It was amazing. Very surprising. A lovely surprise to be able to go out on Centre Court. I thought I'd played my last match out there.

For Casey and I, it was nice to resurrect our last match we played together on Centre Court. It was beautiful out there this evening. I think everyone enjoyed. We had a good time.

Q. Spoke to Ajla in Birmingham a couple weeks ago. She suggested she thought the rest of the legends would be pissed that you're back on the court. What do you think about that?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's good fun. There are so many ladies that I played with, played with years ago, played with more recently. Some obviously a lot more recently retired than others.

No, it is just nice to be back out doing what I love. I mean, I love playing tennis. I love being able to have the balance now to bring my family with me for them to experience it as well.

Yeah, really special.

Q. Let's break some news. When are you coming back?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: You guys are killing me. I don't know how much more. Anyone have a thesaurus for a word that I can use for 'no'?

No. Did you ask anyone else?

Q. Just your child.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Just picking on me (laughter).

No, mate. No, I'm not.

Q. You mentioned being back on Centre Court. What were the memories that came rushing back into your head when you walked out? Can you tell us how that win changed your life?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it changed so much in my life. It was my dream. It was my childhood dream to win this tournament, to win The Championships. I was able to do that. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to play on such a beautiful court on a Saturday afternoon that every athlete wants to play.

It was really nice to go out there today and reminisce a little bit. Obviously there have been a few changes around here the last two or three years. It's nice to come in and settle in like everyone else. It was really enjoyable to go out there. It feels very different when you're under the microscope in a singles final to when you're out there with your best mate.

Both enjoyable, but both very different.

Q. You're also back doing the BBC stuff. Is there a match that stuck out for you that you have called so far?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's been new. It's been something I've never done before. Obviously dipping my toe in on the commentary side of the fence.

It's been really enjoyable to work with the BBC. I've worked with some of the best in our game in that respect. I've learnt a lot and have really enjoyed watching live tennis again.

I've got a beautiful commentary box on both Centre and Court 1. You get a good view and are able to absorb what's happening out on the court. Hopefully people at home are enjoying what I'm having to say. I don't know whether I'm right, wrong or indifferent, but I'm enjoying it as well.

Q. You're not the only Australian that people wanted to tune into today. You had to pull out of the French Open a few years ago when you were right on the top. Alex had a difficult moment today. How do athletes get over those disappointments?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: I'm broken for Alex. I mean, you could see how much it means to him. Like he said, this was the biggest match of his life. This was the opportunity that he had worked so hard for. To have something awful like that happen...

He is a resilient athlete. He's a ripping guy. I know that this will be a challenge. But there will be a silver lining somewhere along the way that he'll grow from, absolutely.

He's too intelligent and too driven and passionate and motivated to not learn from it and not grow from it.

It hurts, though. Absolutely you can't hide behind the fact that it's awful. You have to be able to accept it. It's okay to let it kind of be flattening for a while, but he will I'm sure be able to come back. When he's back on the court and fit and healthy, he'll be doing what he does best again.

Q. Your fellow commentary box guru Nick, is he going to be back again as well?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Mate, I have no idea. I haven't seen him. We haven't crossed paths. I think we've been on different days. As soon as I've done, I have been scooting back home to put Hayden to bed. Different schedules I think.

Q. When you played on the tour, you talked about not liking to watch tennis. What is it like having to watch a lot of it and how your relationship with the sport has changed?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: I mean, I didn't watch a lot of it because I lived it every single day. It was absorbing and consuming every single moment of my professional career.

Now I've been removed for two and a half years, however long it's been, and I haven't watched much. Now it's jumping back in. Some things are different; some things haven't changed.

I love tennis. I love being here. I love being involved. Now I just get to pick and choose in small doses, which is really nice.

Q. Noticed that you spoke about potentially playing doubles with Andy Murray. Has he called you yet? Also, if you'd like to say a few words about him and his career as well.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, Andy is an amazing athlete. He's been an inspiration. He's been someone who has fought so hard for equality and has always stood up for us and our tour.

He's an amazing, amazing person. I think it was really special he was able to celebrate and reminisce on his career.

It's not over yet, I understand. He's still trying to play some doubles, I think. I hope he's able to bow out on his terms to the best of his ability. Physically we know he's struggling.

He's been an exceptional athlete for a long time now. It's going to be a sad day when he's no longer playing week in, week out. A lot of people will miss him. I'll certainly be one of them.

I always enjoyed watching him play. His creativity on the court, his tenacity, the way he would fight. But then off the court he was a gentle, witty, very funny guy. I always really enjoyed spending time with him.

Q. Another one on Alex. Will you reach out to him? What have you made of his last two years and where he's at now? He is No. 6 in the world after Wimbledon.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's incredible. His journey the last couple years has been astronomical. The way he's been able to develop his game, have a more complete game. He's not the biggest bloke out there, but his being able to match it with these guys is impressive.

I think you have seen a massive shift in his ability to be more aggressive, get inside the court, and try and dominate more matches instead of just running, which is a massive strength of his. He's been able to add layers to his game, which has been very impressive.

He belongs in the top 10. He belongs in the quarterfinals, semifinals, latter stages of Grand Slams. This won't be the first time he's in a quarters here. He'll get another opportunity.

I haven't run into him. I haven't reached out yet. Not my place for the moment. He needs to, yeah, absorb what's happened with his team and his people. But I'm sure I'll see him at some stage.

Q. You mentioned playing with Casey, which you obviously love. Have you caught up with any other old friends from the tour?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Very quickly. A couple, which has been nice. Some that are here playing. Some that are retired. Some that are just kind of floating around, which is nice.

There's a few of the girls that I keep in touch with more regularly. But, no, it's been nice to be back in a world that I lived for so long and am so comfortable in.

It feels a little bit strange in my role this week. Obviously playing an exhibition, then also kind of commentating and working on that side. It's been really enjoyable to be here.

Q. Ash, when did you learn you were going to play on Centre today? Exactly three years to the day.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Is it?

Q. Exactly to the day. Originally you were going to be on Court 18 yesterday. Being on Centre is particularly poignant.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it was a big surprise. It was a very nice surprise. I was making lunch for my son at our house. Yeah, I got an email come through saying we'd been shifted to Centre.

Yeah, I kind of called Casey straightaway and said, This is a bit different to what we signed up for. But we were excited.

It's a beautiful court. It's, in my opinion, the best court in the world. I was very grateful and very fortunate that we were able to share an experience out there again today together.

Q. As a member of the media, do you have a newfound appreciation for our lives and sort of the challenges of it, saying things about players? I mean, has that come naturally? When you were a player, you had certain experiences with the media that were difficult for you. Now you're on the other side of it.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: You're saying I'm difficult now? Oh, okay (laughter).

No, I think what's obviously difficult is we're often - we, no longer we - players are often speaking to the media after some of their best or worst moments. You're in a very emotionally wound that sometimes it's just hard. It honestly is just hard coming out and speaking when you're playing for so much and you want it so badly, to come out and be quite measured.

It's often from the media's perspective you're not trying to do anything wrong, but it's just hard to come out and speak after either tough wins or big losses where it's emotionally a roller coaster.

But I'm not that ingrained in the media world yet. I'm sitting on the fence. I haven't got it either way.

Q. Has there been any temptation to get out on the practice courts with some of the active players to test your level?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, mate. There is no level (smiling). Mate, no. I've got a chisel and that's about it at the moment. That's what we're working with.

Q. As happy as you are as a retired player, seeing Iga's success, has your mind ever wondered what it would have been like to play each other at the top of your game?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, it doesn't. I had such a fulfilling journey. I really enjoy watching others do well. We have seen Iga dominate for the most part of the last two and a half years. She's been incredible the way she has composure, has gone on incredible runs, winning matches and really dominating, which is hard to do. It takes discipline. It takes obviously hard work. It takes talent. It takes the ability to put it all together. It's been really impressive watching from afar.

I don't know the ins and outs. I haven't been following that closely. But I just know that she's always there or thereabouts when it matters the most in the big moments, which has been really impressive.

All right. I'll see guys never again. I thought I had done my last one (laughter).