In a big shock to the world, Australia’s world number one Ashleigh Barty on Tuesday announced her retirement from tennis aged only 25.
She quits with 15 titles, less than two months after winning the Australian Open, her third Grand Slam singles triumph following Wimbledon in 2021 and the 2019 French Open. Barty has been the No.1-ranked WTA player for 114 consecutive weeks and counting.
Across all-levels of play, Barty produced a 305-102 record in singles and a 200-64 record in doubles, earning total career prize money of USD 23,829,071.
“I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself … I don’t have that in me anymore, I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more. I am spent.” she said in a video posted on her Instagram account on Wednesday.
This is the second time she has announced retirement from the sport, having walked away as a teenager in late-2014 after becoming disaffected by the Tour and returned in 2016.
“Ash Barty the person has so many dreams she wants to chase after that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, which is where I’ve always wanted to be,” she said in the video , interviewed by her close friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.
“I know I’ve done this before, but in a different feeling, I’m so grateful for tennis, it’s given me all of my dreams, plus more, but I know the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the racquets down.” she said.
