Ash Barty opens up on ‘insecurities’ about her body: Imperfections are part of all of us

Former tennis player Ash Barty opened up on her insecurities about her body, saying imperfections are part of all of us. She stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the game at the age of 25 in March 2022.

Ash Barty won her last major at the Australian Open 2022. (Reuters Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Three-time Grand Slam singles winner Ash Barty opened up on her struggles with her body, saying imperfections are part of all of us.

Barty, who stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the game at the age of 25 in March 2022, said that she had “massive insecurities” in her teenage days and “hated” the effect that the training had on it.

The Australian admitted that she used to compare herself with other players in her circle, whom she considered as “aesthetically beautiful goddesses”, and how she would hide to change in private while others would walk freely around the locker room.

“I went through that like a lot of people do and a big part of my passion now is to encourage girls and boys to be comfortable in themselves,” Barty wrote in her memoir, according to news.com.au.

“It helped me realise that imperfections are part of all of us and they are ok. By sharing some of my insecurities hopefully it can help them realise a lot of people go through it.”

In her memoir, Barty also revealed the real reason behind her untimely retirement from the sport. She said that the “red flag” told her it was time to call it a day. She added that she had lost the drive to continue after winning Wimbledon in 2021.

Barty said that she had realised something was seriously wrong with her motivation as she gave up halfway through an exercise bike fitness session last year.

“Winning Wimbledon was the single thing I wanted my whole career,” Barty told News Corp. “But after that feat, in June 2021, the fire died inside. I don’t know what I’m playing for anymore. I think I’m done. I have got nothing left, no spark.”

Barty’s other two major titles came at the French Open (2019) and the Australian Open (2022).