Seven-time world surfing champion Steph Gilmore admitted the presence of retired tennis great Ash Barty made her a “little bit nervous” at Bells Beach on Tuesday.
Barty, the defending Wimbledon and Australian Open champion. shocked the sporting world last month when she announced her retirement from tennis at the age of just 25.
But Barty’s love for sport remains and she took the chance to head to the Rip Curl Pro event to watch “a few mates do their thing”.
Those friends included Gilmore, who progressed to the round of 16 after finishing second in her heat behind Brisa Hennessy.
“I was actually a little bit nervous when I saw you here,” Gilmore told Barty after the heat.
“I thought ‘I’m going to have to put on a goxjmtzywod show’.”
Gilmore said she was “stoked” Barty was at Bells Beach to support her and loved the tennis legend’s passion for all sport.
“To retire from your sport and just want to go to watch other sports is really special,” Gilmore said.
Barty admitted to knowing little about surfing.
“But that’s all right. This is unreal, the first time for me coming down here, a beautiful part of the world, and get to watch a few mates do their thing – it’s pretty cool.
“It’s nice to be here and watch the pros do their thing, and I get to enjoy it as a fan.”
Barty said she was a “land dweller” but that Gilmore was the “best (surfing) teacher in the world”.
“One day she might get me out there,” she said.
In the men’s event, Mick Fanning progressed to the round of 32 from his elimination heat but has drawn in-form world No.1 ranked Japanese star Kanoa Igarashi.
