Say it ain’t so – turning the lights out early at the Barty Party
Like many other Australians, Michael Blucher is having a pretty hard time coming to terms with World No 1 Ash Barty’s retirement from tennis.
And here we were still coming to terms with Warnie’s tragic passing, and bing… another of our all time, true-blue-ribbon sporting treasures steps off the international stage.
Ash Barty, walking away from tennis in her absolute prime – I’d be surprised if many outside her immediate circle saw that coming.
The Barty Party, most of us thought – or hoped – was just getting started! It was like Barty had primed Australia for this monstrous night out – filled a million eskies with frosty cold free beer, begun dolling out the cans, and just when we’d developed a taste – whooska! She turns off the grog. Sorry folks 8.30 – that’s it. Finish up your drinks and make your way towards the exit. We’re done here.
Ash, without trying to be a nark, I reckon deep down a lot of people have got a bone to pick with you. What are you doing to us, girlfriend?
Talk about selfish! Talk about a whole bunch of sports fans feeling short changed.
Aren’t you aware, we hadn’t finished watching you? Admiring you, being inspired by you. Those gritty on court performances, where you dig in, hang on, fight back. And win. Or not. Sometimes it’s hard to tell. The demeanour is always the same.
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And those press conferences where you talk about “we”, and “us” and “our”, like there’s been 17 people on the court, intercepting backhand drives and drop shots, making it impossible for your opponent to win.
We’d all swear it was PR puffery, if we didn’t know you actually meant it. As an aside, who are we going to draw inspiration from at press conferences now? Andre Medvedev? Oh. Dear. Can you talk to him? Please?
Ash, I know it’s probably not on the “Top 10 Things For Ash to Worry About”, list, but we, Tennis Fans of Australia, have an even bigger problem.
Who are we going to watch now? On court?
Nick? Do we roll the dice with him? I wouldn’t have thought so, not without a helmet. On current form, you could get clocked in the scone with a spinning Yonex.
The other “K”, he goes OK. Alex de Minaur – sure, on the rise. Johnny Millman, we love him – cut from the same cloth as you. But let’s face it. It’s not like it’s ever going to be the same.
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I don’t know how long this hare-brained retirement scheme has been floating around in your head, but you could have at least played on for another five or 10 years while you gave it a bit more thought.
How old are you? Like 20 or 21? You still look so fresh, so ready to go. I’m guessing there were probably some states in the US where you weren’t even able to buy a beer, after you’ve won a tournament. You owning up to that?
And excuse me…just three grand slam titles! Three. Think how many you would have won if you’d hung around until you were 40. Like Roger. Also, no thought of trying to eke out that missing one – the US Open? Get the matching set of four? Hello? Anybody home? Don’t you want to make a name for yourself?
Yes, we’re starting to question, Ash, just how carefully you’ve thought this retirement thing through.
I notice all the experts are already taking a punt on what you’re going to do next. Golf, AFL, back to WBBL. Maybe a combo of all three? We’ve seen you hit a golf ball. That looks like it might work – good swing plane. And your future hubby Garry, can keep you grounded – make sure you don’t get ahead of yourself, like you did on the tennis court every now and then.
I suppose it’s good to have choices. And goals. Even if sometimes you fall short. But seriously, stick with it – you never know where hard work might take you in the future.
Just promise us one thing, you won’t disappear all together.
You might not have worked this out yet Ash, but Australia is a much better place when you’re around, smiling at the cameras, being accessible, being humble. Being Ash Barty.
And I don’t want you to get up yourself, but you really should know,… you’re a bloody champion.
Seriously…thank you.
For everything.
So far.
PS. If you could please pass on a note to your Mum and Dad: – say thanks to them. And your sisters? That would be appreciated. The good judges are guessing they might have played a small part in all this.
