WTA World number One Ashleigh Barty stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the sport at just 25 years of age only months after claiming the Australian Open title on home soil.
Ashleigh Barty took to social media to break the news about her retirement, citing physical fatigue as the reason for her choosing to retire from the sport.
“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” “I kind of wasn’t quite sure how I was going do this but I think so many times in my life both my professional and my personal, you’ve been there for me,” Barty said to close friend Casey Dellacqua, who interviewed her.
“And I just couldn’t think there’s no right way there’s no wrong way. It’s just my way and this is perfect for me to share it with you to talk to you about it with my team, my loved ones that I’ll be retiring from tennis.
“And so first time I’ve actually said it out loud and yeah, it’s hard to say, but I’m so happy and I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person, this is right.”
“I don’t have the physical drive the emotional want and kind of everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level anymore and I think I just know that I’m absolutely I am spent I just know physically I have nothing more to give.
“I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I’m really happy with that. And for me that that is my success.
“And I know that people may not understand it and that’s OK. I’m OK with that.”
Ashleigh Barty made her debut as a professional tennis player back in 2012 and has won 15 career titles including three Grand Slams. She also represented her country at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and became the first Australian woman to win a singles title at Wimbledon in 2021.
Ashleigh Barty has followed in the footsteps of Ann Jones, Marion Bartoli and Flavia Pennetta by becoming only the fourth woman in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam final in their last professional appearance. She also emulates Justine Henin in retiring as World number One.
