Former world No. 1 Ash Barty has despatched the tennis world into meltdown with a cryptic Instagram put up hinting at the opportunity of her return to the game.
Wearing a cap with the Wimbledon emblem on it (profitable Wimbledon, as Barty did in 2021, brings with it membership of the All-England Club), Barty gently hit balls fed to her by some children within the video posted to Instagram.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and begin streaming immediately >
It was alongside a photograph of two-month-old son Hayden, cuddling up with a mini tennis racquet.
The put up was captioned: “Back to red ball.
“Coaches seemed happy enough. Spectator just enjoyed a snooze in the shade.”
It despatched the tennis world wild, with followers clamouring for Barty to return to the court docket in a aggressive capability.
“Come out of retirement please,” was one reply.
“We need you back on tour,” wrote one other.
Many, many others used the identical three phrases of their reply: “Please come back.”
It was the reported remark of one other former skilled, nonetheless, that had tennis followers speaking.
Former doubles nice Pat Shriver – who as soon as incorrectly predicted the tip of Barty’s reign as world No. 1 – questioned the timing of Barty’s put up based on web site tennis.com.
“It’s interesting that she chose to post the video,” Shriver is quoted.
“It’s kind of like, does that send a message, now that all these peers who were playing the tour at the same time as her are coming back?”
Wozniacki, Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka and Elina Svitolina are among the many gamers to return to the tour of late after having kids.
It additionally noticed former mates and foes alike fawning over younger Hayden.
Former Brisbane Heat teammate Jess Jonassen wrote: “That little racquet.”
Fellow tennis participant and former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki wrote: “So cute!️”
Barty shocked the world when she retired in March 2022 on the prime of the game, turning into solely the second participant in historical past to retire whereas holding the No. 1 rating, and since then, turned mom to Hayden.
Since her exit from the game, rumours have continually swirled round the opportunity of a return.
Barty has taken prolonged breaks from the game earlier than, having been on hiatus throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
It would even be in step with Justine Henin, who’s the one different lady to have retired whereas the top-ranked participant on the planet – Henin made a quick return a 12 months after retiring from the game.
Source: www.news.com.au
