Ash Barty is enjoying her retirement from tennis and wasting no time immersing herself in other sports.
After winning a local golf tournament earlier in April, the 25-year-old was found at Bells Beach on Tuesday as she cheered on some friends competing in a Rip Curl Pro event.
Australian surfing superstar Steph Gilmore was one of those Barty was cheering for and she sung her praises for embracing another sport so soon after hanging up the racket.
“I was actually a little bit nervous when I saw you here,” Gilmore told Barty.
“I thought, ‘I’m really going to have to put in a good show’.
"I got to watch Ash a few times. Stoked Ash could come down and I just love how much of a fan you are of sport. It doesn't matter what sport.
“To retire from your sport and just want to go to watch other sports is really special."
Could the Championship Tour be the next move for @ashbarty? @Steph_gilmore
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 13, 2022
Tune in for the next call of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: 10:15 am AEST@ripcurl @visitmelbourne pic.twitter.com/bB66hwmDqC
Despite some unexpected extra nerves, Gilmore was able to progress to the round of 16.
Barty, herself, confessed she's better on land and is far from a surfing expert but is enjoying the freedom her tennis retirement has brought with it.
"This is unreal. The first time for me coming down here, a beautiful part of the world, and to get to watch a few mates do their thing – it’s pretty cool,” Barty said.
“It’s nice to be here and watch the pros do their thing, and I get to enjoy it as a fan.
"Watching live for the first time. It's so much different than on the tele and it's something as a fan and friend I really love doing.
"I'm very much a land-dweller. One day she (Gilmore) might get me out there."
