Ash Barty has given very little away about her future while addressing media for the first time since announcing her shock decision to retire from tennis.
The World Number One tennis star remained tight-lipped when quizzed by reporters on Thursday about her next move.
“You have to wait and see. I’m not giving you everything right now. It’s alright. You can be patient. Patience is a virtue…. We’ll see,” Barty joked.
When probed again, the 25-year-old refused to speculate on what’s next in store, but didn’t rule out a switch to another sport.
“I have seen some brilliant photoshops as a jockey, lawn bowls. I love sport. I’m a sport nut, like a lot of Australians are,” she said.
“I’m glued to it… I have always been an athlete in the sense of trying different things but we’ll see how we go”.
Barty stressed that there are “no secrets” behind her decision to hang up the racquet, simply saying she felt the time was right to bow out now.
“I’d given absolutely everything that I could to this sport, and I knew that it wouldn’t be fair to my team and the people that have invested so much time and energy into my life to not be 100 per cent committed for them,” Barty said.
“So it’s been a hell of a journey. I wouldn’t change a thing and I certainly have no regrets.
“I’m an open book. I’m not hiding anything, I’ve got no secrets. I am just so proud of all of the work that I have done with my team.”
Barty said she was now looking forward to the next chapter, which right now consists of more family time.
“I’m so excited for what’s to come next. I’m so grateful for everything that tennis has given me,” she said.
“I have given everything to this sport and it’s given me so much more in return and I’m so grateful to that.
“But I’m excited to spend more time with family, my fiancee Garry, my parents and my nieces, spend time with them as aunty Ash.
“That’s how they know me, that’s how they love me and I’m really excited for that”.
