Where is Ash Barty? Why reigning Australian Open champion isn’t playing at Melbourne Park in 2023

Ash Barty completed a fairytale triumph at the 2022 Australian Open as she won the women’s singles title on home soil.

The then world No.1 was in unstoppable form and looked poised to dominate for years to come before dropping a huge bombshell just weeks later. 

Barty decided to retire from tennis at the age of just 25, hanging up her racquet after fulfilling her dreams and eager to focus on matters off the court. 

As the 2023 Australian Open heats up, many fans will be wondering where Barty is now and why she isn’t playing at Melbourne Park. 

MORE: World No. 1 withdraws from 2023 Australian Open

Where is Ash Barty?

While Barty won’t be playing at the 2023 Australian Open, the Aussie will be making appearances at and around the tournament. 

The 26-year-old will have a number of corporate and commercial obligations in Melburne during the Grand Slam event so expect to see plenty of her still. 

“No centre court, I will be working in the background doing my thing,” Barty told the Today Show in November.

“But I certainly will be enjoying it, like everyone else. I can’t wait, it’s scary to think it’s so close, it feels like a couple of sleeps and it will be here.” 

Barty was also reportedly sounded out by Channel Nine to commentate the Australian Open but turned down the offer. 

Barty currently lives in Queensland with her husband Garry Kissick and confirmed in early January that they were expecting there first child in 2023. 

What does Ash Barty do now? 

Since retiring from tennis, Barty has been up to a range of things. 

Not long after hanging up her racquet, she won an amateur golf tournament in Queensland but never entertained the prospect of turning pro. 

Barty has been busy writing a number of books since her retirement, releasing a series of children books titled ‘Little Ash’ and a memoir called ‘My Dream Time’. 

In August 2022, Barty was also appointed as ‘Chief of Inspiration’ with telecommunication company Optus. 

Along with that role, the Aussie is also a National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador. 

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Will Ash Barty play tennis competitively again?

Considering her young age and the fact she was so dominant at retirement, plenty of people have wondered whether Barty would return to tennis one day.

At this stage, the 26-year-old is adamant she won’t be playing professionally ever again. 

“I’m done, You can never say never but no. I’m done,” Barty said in November at the launch of her autobiography. 

Asked on the Today Show whether she misses playing, Barty said: “Yes and no. There are certainly parts of it that I miss. I miss testing myself against the world’s best, I miss seeing my mates that I met from all corners of the globe.

“I’m certainly happy and I know that it was the right time for me, it was the right decision and certainly no regrets.”

Ash Barty’s 2022 Australian Open results

Prior to 2022, Barty had struggled to perform in her home Grand Slam tournament.

Her previous best result came in 2020 when she reached the semi-finals with quarter-final exits either side of that. 

But after winning Wimbledon in 2021, Barty arrived at Melbourne Park full of confidence and didn’t put a foot wrong on her way to the Australian Open title. 

The then 25-year-old didn’t drop a single set on her way to winning the tournament and overcame American Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 (2) in the final.