‘P**sed Me Off’ – 16 Months After Ashleigh Barty’s Australian Open Heroics, the Former Tennis Queen Fumes at Constant Naomi Osaka Comparisons

The rivalry that exists between different players in tennis is what makes the game more exciting. Iconic rivalries between Martina Navratilova – Chris Evert, Roger Federer – Rafael Nadal, and Steffi Graf – Monica Seles are a few of the longest and most vital in the history of the sport. The present generation also witnessed a short-lived but impactful rivalry between Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka. The competitiveness grew stronger when the duo was at the peak of their careers, especially in 2022, where Barty continued to be number one for 114 consecutive weeks.

Osaka and Barty are often compared to each other, though they share a cordial relationship off the court. The Australian recently revealed which aspect of their rivalry got on her nerves most, and it was a smooth blow to her confidence.

Which question about Naomi Osaka rubbed Ashleigh Barty the wrong way?

The former tennis player graced a podcast, ‘Let’s Talk,’ hosted by Channel 7 commentator Hamish McLachlan, which is a one-on-one video series. Barty talked about her 2022 Australian Open win and how she had to put up with the pressure of overpowering Osaka. The Japanese was the favorite, though Barty held the top rank before the Australian won her home Slam in 2022.

Speaking about the constant comparison, Barty said, “There was plenty of noise (before the tournament). (People were saying), ‘Is Ash the best player in the world?’. And that made me angry. That really pi**ed me off because I know I am the best player in the world.” She replaced Osaka to become the WTA No. 1, and the audience did not well receive it.

The Australian tennis great claimed one Grand Slam in every calendar year, from 2019 to 2022, except 2020, as the pandemic interrupted the tournaments. Despite all the debates and firm opinions of the tennis fraternity, Barty and Osaka had only good things to tell about each other. Barty even made a ground-breaking decision after winning her last home Slam, which sent shock waves across the world.

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The rivals did not let the opinions stand in their way before Barty bid adieu

According to the official website of the Australian Open, Barty said, “It was different not seeing her week-in week-out kind of at the back end of last year, even though for us, personally, we only played two or three tournaments in the back half of the year. Yeah, it is nice to see her back now enjoying her tennis and doing what she does best.”

The Japanese announced an indefinite break after her third-round loss to Leylah Fernandez in the 2021 US Open. She returned for the tournaments of 2022. So the former tennis legend extended her wishes to her former rival on her return to the major tournament. Osaka also reciprocated the warmth and revealed that Barty deserves to be number one in the world and that she likes her and appreciates all the struggles she faced to reach the position.

Barty hung her racket as the world number one 50 days after winning her home Slam in 2022. She announced her retirement through an Instagram post that featured her interview with Casey Dellacqua, the former doubles partner of the three-time Grand Slam champion. Barty expressed that she was fulfilled with her career and decided to chase her other dreams. The Australian has married, had kids, released her autobiography, and even taken up a mentor role for Olivia Gadecki, a 21-year-old compatriot, since her retirement.

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