Ashley Barty He shocked the tennis world at the end of March when he announced his retirement, at the age of 25, as number one in the world and just two months after winning his third Grand Slam at the Australian Open. At the time, without giving much indication about his future, he made sure he was “tired” of the demands of the professional circuit, but he was happy to “pursue other dreams”. But even though he never picked up the racket again, the Australian did not remain silent and began to shine on other courses, the golf courses, which in a few months he would be the star of a particular tournament along with several other world sports. numbers.

Because the former leader of the WTA rankings will be part of the all-star team of “The rest of the world” that the United States team will face in Icon Seriesa nine -hole exhibition event, with format match-playto be played between June 30 and July 1 at Liberty National Golf Club, in New Jersey.

Who will be your companions? No less than Spanish Pep Guardiola, current manager of Manchester United; Mexican boxer Canelo Álvarez, WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super middleweight world champion; and the British footballer harry kane. Although the list will be expanded in the coming days, as more participants will be revealed. The team captain will be a South African golfer Ernie Elstwo -time champion at the US Open and British Open.

The United States team will be the captain of couple fredwinner of the 1992 Augusta Masters, and will be joined, among others, by former swimmer Michael Phelps, the most successful athlete in Olympic Games history with 28 medals (23 gold), and former boxer Oscar de la hoyawho knows how to be world champion in six different divisions.

It won’t be a completely new experience for Barty, who has several times proven that his talent for the sport is not limited to what he can do with a racket in hand.

A young tennis prodigy, the Australian jumped into professionalism at the age of 14, but at the age of 18, he decided to take a break because he no longer enjoyed the court. With that first stop, he was encouraged to try cricket, which was very popular in his country, and it didn’t go bad. He represented the Brisbane Heat in the inaugural season of Women’s Big Bash League in the sub-20 category and connoisseurs of that sport ensured he had the level to make a career at bat. But he returned to tennis and had great success.

After announcing the end of his time as a tennis player, more than a month ago, it didn’t take long for him to venture into golf, a sport with which he has a special connection, since his partner Garry Kissick, whom he contacted in November, is a PGA pro trainee and passionate about the sport. And it seems that Barty, who has been said to love competition several times, also has a knack for golf clubs.

Less than two weeks after his official retirement, he was crowned at a tournament held at a club in the small town of Brookwater in Australia, which he once won, in 2020. The former world number one won with a two-stroke advantage. to his nearest chase and took a prize of 30 Australian dollars (about 22 of the American currency).

“I love sports. I’m a sports freak, like many Australians. It attracts me. I’ve always been an athlete in the sense of trying different things, but we’ll see how it goes,” he said in the interview where he publicly announced his decision to hang the racket.

Will his talent walk the golf courses of the world in the future? for sure. For now, at least, he will dedicate himself to perfecting her swing face the contest of stars where he will be one of the great heroes.

Barty has a genius in sports, there’s no doubt about it; but many other interests. One of them, literature, in which he soon ventured as the author of children’s books.

The six -volume series, entitled “Little Ash” (Little Ash), to be released in July, is based on his own experiences as a tennis star and his family. Moreover, it was her little niece Lucy who inspired her to start writing, as revealed in an Australian media interview. Herald Sun Y The Daily Telegraph.

“This project has been so much fun and it’s been something I’ve wanted to do ever since. Lucy is my North Star. She’s the perfect age to understand stories and plots and read chapter books,” Barty said. , former world number one tennis player, talented amateur golfer and writer.

The multifaceted and tireless former number one seems determined to enjoy her life in retirement.