I am both sad and glad to hear that Ash Barty, women’s tennis number one player, is retiring. It is one of those news items that you think should happen the next decade but here it is.

I am sad because the world is losing one of the great players with several Grand Slam titles and many brilliant games both victorious and not. She always played positively and in good humour.

The gladness is that she was able to choose to retire when she wanted to, as the number one in the world. There will be no slow decline as age and injury catch up with her, she will always be remembered as a champion.

Maybe she could return to cricket, I’m sure she would still remember the skills from those days. She has a great future in so many areas and will surely continue to be a role model for so many people. Good luck with whatever the future brings.

Dennis Fitzgerald,
Melbourne, Australia