Ash Barty reveals her secret career regret after Rafael Nadal’s farewell

Australian tennis legend Ash Barty has lifted the lid on a big regret from her career after watching Rafael Nadal bid farewell.

Australian tennis great Ash Barty has revealed the secret regret from her career.

The 28-year-old, who won three grand slams, stunned the world when she announced her retirement from the sport in 2022.

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Her announcement came just months after she won the Australian Open and left fans around the world in disbelief.

But years after the decision, Barty has spoken about the one big regret from her career after watching legend Rafael Nadal farewell the sport.

Nadal put the racquet down in tear-jerking scenes as the 22-time grand slam champion waved goodbye as Spain were defeated by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup last month.

The scenes thrust Barty’s mind back to 2022 when he retirement plans were snatched out of her hands.

Like Nadal, Barty had hoped to bid farewell while representing Australia one final time in a qualifying tie for the Billie Jean King Cup in April, 2022.

It wasn’t to be however with the tournament being completely changed in the wake of Russia’s widely-condemned invasion of Ukraine.

Barty didn’t get her dream farewell. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Barty said in an interview with Code Sports that Nadal lived out her dream scenario of walking away.

“I love Rafa,” she said.

“I liked the way Rafa retired. He wanted to represent Spain in a team environment. That was my dream. I wanted to retire representing Australia at a Fed Cup tie in Brisbane which did not eventuate. I know that feeling of celebrating your career with the people you love.

“It’s been such a beautiful celebration for him and his career. So many tributes from players and also other athletes around the world. It showed how much of a positive impact it had on sport and life in general.”

It wasn’t her plan, but Barty went out in style. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Nadal got his dream farewell. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)

While she might not have been granted her dream farewell, Barty said walking away after winning the Australian Open was her perfect way out.

“There is no perfect way, there is no perfect timing but this was our perfect way, and it was a great finish,” Barty said after announcing her retirement.

“That crowd (for) the final of the Australian Open was like nothing I have ever played in front of before and it was so much fun to enjoy that with them as well as my team.

“Yeah, it was a brilliant way to finish.

“I have so much love and support, and I’m so lucky to get so much love and support here in Australia, and so many people have made my career so much more fun, and being able to share that with them and experience that with them made it all the better, and I think the Australian public allowed me to be myself.”

Barty will return to Melbourne Park for a special promotional event set to take place during the Australian Open.

Originally published as Ash Barty reveals her secret career regret after Rafael Nadal’s farewell