Ash Barty reveals ‘most pivotal moment’ was one of her worst

Ash Barty has opened up on the one moment she hit rock bottom during her tennis career – and what she did that turned it all around.

Ash Barty is happy with life. Photo: Channel 7

Former Aussie tennis champion Ash Barty has revealed one of the lowest moments of her career was what turned her into three-time grand slam winner and World No. 1.

Barty squeezed plenty of success into her relatively short career before shocking the world when she retired at the age of 25 fresh off her 2022 Australian Open success.

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The 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon champion revealed she was walking away from the sport for good earlier this year, despite hopes from Aussie fans she just needed a break.

Since retiring, Barty has married her long-time sweetheart Garry Kissick, launched her book series Little Ash and released her memoir My Dream Time.

But after incredible success during her career, Barty kicks off the book not with her triumphs, but one of her lowest lows.

Barty had never made it past the third round of a grand slam as of Wimbledon 2018 and no Australian woman had made the fourth round of the event in 18 years.

Despite leading 3-0 early, the 17th seeded Barty crashed to a 7-5 6-3 loss to Russian Daria Kasatkina.

Barty bowed out a winner. Photo by Aaron FRANCIS / AFP

It’s the story that kicks off the memoir and Barty told Seven’s Sunrise while it wasn’t a positive memory to relive, it was one of the most influential moments of her career.

“I think for me that was probably the most pivotal moment of my career,” Barty said.

“It felt quite normal and natural and a little bit scary but that felt like the moment for me where everything changed.

“As tough as it was to go through again and talk about, it was a really important part of my acceptance of it as well but scary way to start but also a great way to let everyone into what I hope everyone enjoys as a really honest and open book.”

Barty revealed she had two voices in her head when she was playing tennis “One whispers, ‘Ash, you’re not good enough,’ and the other replies, ‘Yes, you are – come on, Ash!’”

She revealed her implosion against Kasatkina left her “embarrassed and ashamed” and that she shunned her team and cried herself to sleep.

But it led to Barty’s close-knit team bringing on mind coach Ben Crowe, who helped turn the young Queenslander’s story into the legend the world now knows.

Less than a year later, she was a French Open winner and World No. 1.

Barty also revealed on Sunrise although she was appreciative of being able to see the world, it was a hard life being on the road most of the year from a young age.

“It was hard, without a doubt, but has also been a massive part of my life and has helped shape me to who I am today,” she said.

“There are certainly some tough parts about it but all in all when we finished this book and went through everything there wasn’t a part of me that had any regret, I certainly didn’t want to change anything.”

Barty married long-time partner Garry Kissick in July. Photo: Nic Morley.

And hasn’t missed a chance to get on the golf course. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

Now months on from her decision to retire from tennis, Barty reiterated she is happy with how everything has played out.

“Absolutely no regrets (about retirement) — life’s been great,” Barty said.

“It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I feel very fortunate I’ve been able to live out my childhood dream and have a career for 20 years.

“It was something I loved and now what excites me is our next chapter and what that is I’m not quite sure yet but the last six months, if it’s anything to go by, it’s going to be a really fun journey.

“Much to a lot of people’s disgust, the professional athlete is done, the tank is empty but it has been a lot of fun ticking off a few other things that I was loved to do. I’m a weekend hacker on the golf course, I love to get out with my mum and my girlfriends and that’s about as far as we go.”

Sunrise host David Koch said of the interview that Barty “just gets more impressive every time you see her”.

And while sports reporter Mark Berretta said Barty would continue to have success in whatever she decides to do next, host Nat Barr added: “Maybe it won’t be a thing. Maybe she would just want to lead a normal life and not have a big thing and she probably is asked about that all the time, maybe she just wants a normal life.”