‘You guys are killing me’: Barty’s Wimbledon reminder as champ responds to comeback question

Ash Barty has made a victorious return to the scene of her greatest triumph on Wimbledon’s Centre Court three years to the day after she won the celebrated title.

Ash Barty has made a victorious return to the scene of her greatest triumph on Wimbledon’s Centre Court three years to the day after she won the celebrated title she had dreamt of as a girl.

But the three-time major champion, who played with her usual grace and showed sublime touch in a Legends doubles alongside her mate Casey Dellacqua, made it abundantly clear that as much as she had enjoyed the moment, this was not the start of a comeback.

“You guys are killing me. Anyone have a thesaurus for a word that I can use for ‘no’? No, mate. No, I’m not,” she said with the crispness with which she used to her slice backhand.

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The 28-year-old, who retired two months after claiming the 2022 Australian Open in stunning fashion, has earned rave reviews for her work as a pundit for the BBC during Wimbledon and showed she had lost none of her on-court cunning on Wednesday.

The Queenslander was at her home base in London making lunch for her son Hayden when she received an email saying that their match against Andrea Petkovic and Magdalena Rybarikova had been scheduled on Centre Court due to Alex de Minaur’s injury misfortune.

Barty, who spoke with passion about de Minaur’s bad luck when declaring he would back in the latter stages of Wimbledon in the future, walked on to the court where she defeated Karolina Pliskova three years ago with a smile and a wave.

The result did not matter – for the record, the Australians won 5-7 6-3 (10-7) and Barty was clearly still the best player on the court – but her return was well received by the few thousand fans who remained to watch the exhibition.

“It was amazing (and) very surprising. (It was) a lovely surprise to be able to go out on Centre Court. I thought I’d played my last match out there,” she said.

“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.

“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.”

Barty had beaten Petkovic, a former top 10-ranked rival, 6-3 6-1 in the 3rd Rd in Paris in 2019 on route to her first grand slam title at Roland Garros and performed with remarkable distinction in a drought-breaking Australian Open success in 2022.

But Wimbledon was the title she dreamt of while growing up hitting tennis balls against a brick wall in the garage of her parents house in Ipswich while inspired by the deeds of Australian icon Evonne Goolagong-Cawley.

Her success in 2021, which was a miracle on grass given she entered Wimbledon under a massive injury cloud after tearing a thigh muscle during the French Open, came 50 years after her idol’s success at Wimbledon and she wore a dress to honour Goolagong-Cawley.

“It changed so much in my life. It was my dream. It was my childhood dream to win this tournament, to win The Championships,” she said.

Barty and Casey Dellacqua celebrate.

“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 (and) it was really nice to go out there today and reminisce a little bit.

“Obviously there have been a few changes around here over the last two or three years. But 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.”

Barty, who has spent some time since her retirement helping aspiring Australian players, was a little rusty and not quite as sharp as when she was the dominant woman in the world.

Although the pace of play was a couple of clicks slower – and that is being generous – the class of the Australian stood out and there was still some brilliant tennis played.

One angled backhand volley in particular when at full-stretch in the second set drew gasps from a crowd clearly appreciative to watch a master on grass back on the court.

This is scarcely surprising, for as outstanding as the world No. 1 was on the singles court, she was also a magnificent doubles player who claimed the 2018 US Open with Victoria Azarenka.

Barty will not be making a comeback.

She and Dellacqua also reached three grand slam doubles finals in 2013 when Barty was still in high school and another in 2017 when she was on the comeback trail.

There were laughs – the three-time major winner sledged the German for her dancing after Petkovic mimed being hurt when struck by a return – while some members of the crowd sang “c’mon Barty, let’s go party” as the Aussie pair edged ahead in the second set.

Barty returned to the main press room after the win and quipped this “was not what she had signed up for”. But she is enjoying her new life as a mother and occasional analyst who can walk onto the court and still wow the crowds with her brilliance.

“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,” she said.

“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 and 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.”

With her press conference commitments completed, Barty bolted for the door with a smile and a wave vowing never to do another one. Some things will never change.

Originally published as ‘You guys are killing me’: Barty’s Wimbledon reminder as champ responds to comeback question