Ash Barty heads to the shops in activewear as tennis star is seen for first time since retirement

Tennis superstar Ash Barty has donned activewear for a trip to her local shops in one of her first public appearances since news of her shock retirement broke.

The 25-year-old just a week ago declared she would be putting down her racquet to ‘chase other dreams’ just six months after claiming the title at Wimbledon.

Barty looked every bit the everyday Australian as she headed to the shops clad in comfortable activewear, sandals and a pair of sunglasses.

The three-time Grand Slam winner ferried bags of groceries from the supermarket to her parked Jaguar F-Pace, estimated to be worth around $100,000.

Barty is an ambassador for the car brand, which means she would not have to pay for the vehicle.

It comes just a week after Barty announced her retirement in an emotional video revealing she was physically and emotionally ‘spent’.

Barty looked every bit the everyday Australian as she headed to the shops clad in comfortable activewear, sandals and a pair of aviator-style sunglasses

The athlete appeared upset as she revealed she wanted to ‘chase other dreams’. 

‘It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, so it’s hard to say but I’m so happy and I’m so ready,’ she explained in the video in which she was joined by former doubles partner and good friend Casey Dellacqua.

‘I know I’ve done this before but in a very different feeling and I’m so grateful of what tennis has given me, all of my dreams plus more but I know the time is right now for me to step away and to put the rackets down.’ 

Barty grabbed the world No.1 spot on June 24, 2019, and never relinquished it with high finishes in Grand Slams for the next two-and-a-half years. 

Barty announced her retirement last week in an emotional video in which she was joined by former doubles partner and good friend Casey Dellacqua

The three-time Grand Slam winner ferried bags of groceries from the supermarket to her parked Jaguar F-Pace, estimated to be worth around $100,000 (pictured)

The 25-year-old recently moved back to her hometown of Ipswich with her fiancé, golfer Garry Kissick, whom she plans to marry later in 2022.

She is building a multi-million dollar mega-mansion in Ipswich, increasing her burgeoning property portfolio, and has signed endorsement deals with Jaguar, Vegemite, Fila, Rado, and Uber Eats.  

‘I have lived in the Springfield area my entire life and mum and dad have lived there for their entire lives. My sisters are not far away. We are excited that we are in our new place. It’s beautiful,’ Barty recently told the Courier Mail. 

The animal lover added that it was important for her that their four beloved dogs Rudy, Maxi, Affie and Chino have space to run around in the new home. 

Barty earned US$23.8 million (AU$37.75 million) in prize money and millions more in sponsorships, making her the 14th best-paid female player in history.

The athlete appeared visibly upset as she revealed she was physically and emotionally ‘spent’ and wanted to ‘chase other dreams’ in an emotional video announcing her retirement

She also made US$3 million from endorsements last year and was the eighth-highest paid female athlete in 2021, pocketing US$6.9 million, according to Forbes.

Her total earnings are estimated to be around US$53 million (AU$70 million). 

Barty said she was considering retirement for a while and had a ‘gut feeling’ achieving her childhood dream of winning Wimbledon last year.

‘It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time and I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments,’ she said.

‘I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments. And Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and for me as an athlete when you work so hard, your whole life for one goal, and I’ve been able to share that with so many incredible people.

‘But to be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream — the one, true dream I wanted in tennis — that really changed my perspective. I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it.

Barty’s total earnings are estimated to be around US$53 million (AU$70 million)

The tennis superstar explained while announcing her retirement that she didn’t possess the physical drive or the emotional want to challenge herself at the top level

‘There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled. And then came the challenge of the Australian Open.

‘That for me just feels like the perfect way — my perfect way — to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been.

The Queenslander concluded that she wanted to chase after some other life-long dreams and felt ‘really excited’ about the next chapter of her life. 

Barty also revealed she’s ‘physically spent’ after three consecutive years as the women’s world No.1 following her comeback to the sport in late 2016 after an 18-month break prompted by her struggles with mental health.

‘There was a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results,’ Barty said. 

The tennis superstar explained she didn’t possess the physical drive or the emotional want to challenge herself at the top level. 

‘I know that people may not understand it. And that’s OK, I’m OK with that because I know that for me, Ash Barty, the person has so many dreams that she wants to chase after that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family being away from my home, which is where I’ve always wanted to be.

‘Now I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person and not Ash Barty the athlete.’

Barty grabbed the world No.1 spot on June 24, 2019, and never relinquished it with high finishes in Grand Slams for the next two-and-a-half years 

The 25-year-old recently moved back to her hometown of Ipswich with her fiancé, golfer Garry Kissick (left), whom she plans to marry later in 2022

Barty, who turned pro at just 13, also claimed the French Open in 2019 and 12 other titles – despite taking a lengthy break from the sport to play cricket in 2014-16.

Shortly after her maiden Grand Slam at Roland-Garros, Barty opened up on her career-threatening mental health battle which saw her temporarily quit tennis.

She said she had been struggling to cope with the pressure of being touted the sport’s next big thing after winning the Wimbledon junior crown at just 15.

Depressed and homesick, Barty packed it in after a first-round US Open defeat.

She withdrew from Indian Wells and the Miami Open after winning in Melbourne in January, citing ‘a need for ongoing recovery after winning the Australian Open’. 

The tennis champ is the eighth woman to win the title on three different surfaces. 

Barty, who turned pro at just 13, also claimed the French Open in 2019 and 12 other titles (pictured is the star posing at the Women’s Singles Final in Melbourne in January)

Barty (pictured at the Australian Open in January) said she was considering retirement for a while and had a ‘gut feeling’ achieving her childhood dream of winning Wimbledon last year

Barty and her incredible career were praised by Women’s Tennis Association chief executive Steve Simon minutes after her announcement.

‘Ash Barty with her signature backhand slice complemented by being the ultimate competitor, has always led by example through unwavering professionalism and sportsmanship she brought to every match,’ he said.

‘She has clearly established herself as one of the great champions of the WTA.’

Current and former greats of the game also paid tribute to the star. 

‘Happy for @ashbarty, gutted for tennis, what a player,’ Andy Murray tweeted.

Fellow Australian star Thanasi Kokkinakis, tweeted ‘Respect it’ in response to Barty’s bombshell decision.

Former world No 1 Karolina Pliskova added it was privilege to enjoy some epic battles against Barty. ‘An incredible tennis player but more importantly one of the nicest people on tour,’ she said.