From SW19 to New York City! Reigning Wimbledon champion Ash Barty swaps her tennis racket for the golf clubs as former World No 1 joins Harry Kane ahead of Icon Series after announcing her shock retirement this year
- Former tennis star Ash Barty has swapped SW19 for the Empire State Building
- The ex-World No 1 announced her shock retirement from tennis earlier this year
- Barty, 25, will participate in a golf exhibition with Harry Kane and other stars
- The Australian said she wished ‘to chase other dreams’ in explaining her decision
Twelve months ago, Ash Barty realised her life-long dream of winning the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon but just one year on from conquering in SW19, the Australian has swapped her racket for a golf club atop the Empire State Building.
The 25-year-old shocked the sporting world earlier this year by announcing her retirement from tennis after spending 114 consecutive weeks as the women’s World No 1.
Barty explained that she was ‘physically and emotionally spent’ after sitting atop the women’s game for such a long spell, adding that she wished ‘to chase other dreams’.
Ash Barty has swapped Wimbledon for the Empire State Building for a golf tournament
The reigning SW19 champion, 25, announced her shock retirement earlier this year
And while her former rivals set out on their respective Wimbledon campaigns, Barty spent Wednesday at the Empire State Building in New York City to promote the Icon Series alongside England captain Harry Kane.
Barty and Kane will represent Team Rest of the World, alongside the likes of Pep Guardiola and Canelo Alvarez against Team USA, comprising Michael Phelps, Michael Strahan and Oscar De Le Hoya, among others in the two-day event in New Jersey on June 30 and July 1.
The duo showed off their putting skills on an artificial green, took a look through binoculars at the top of the building before posing for photos with the Icon Series trophy.
Barty is a multi-faceted sporting talent and previously enjoyed a strong cricket career before focusing on tennis. In April, the 25-year-old won the ladies golf championship at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club in her native Queensland.
Barty was seen practicing her putting alongside Harry Kane in the Big Apple on Wednesday
Barty (L) and Kane (R) pose with their putters ahead of the exhibition on June 30 and July 1
Barty said she wished ‘to chase other dreams’ when announcing her retirement in March
Seven-times major winner Karrie Webb played a round with Barty at Victoria Golf Club in 2019 and claimed that Barty had the talent to make it on the LPGA tour.
‘She’s a really handy player and just that one day I could tell if she puts some time into it she will be a great player,’ Webb said.
‘It was everything – she hit the ball a long way – but a lot of athletes are very hand-eye co-ordinated and they get out there and they’re fairly decent at hitting the ball.
‘When it comes to the finesse shots, sometimes that’s where they struggle, but she’s got good hands from how she plays tennis. You could tell she had good hands and she’d developed a good short game and that just needs sharpening.’
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