One of the world’s top players Ashleigh Barty has stunned the world of tennis by announcing she is retiring from tennis professionally at 25.
The Australian made the announcement via the social networks on Wednesday stating that she would be moving to “chase another dream”.
Ashleigh Barty claimed she was “absolutely consumed” and “physically I’ve got nothing to offer”.
“I’m extremely happy and completely ready. I know in the time in my soul, for me as an individual this is the best thing that could happen,” she said.
“I am aware that some people might not get this. I’m okay with this. Because I’m aware Ash Barty has a myriad of dreams she’d like to pursue that don’t require traveling around the world, and being far away from my family, and from the place I call home. It’s the place I’ve always dreamed of being.”
Barty was the winner of the title in three Grand Slam singles events, including the Australian Open in January.
As a result, she became the first player from Australia to take home in the Australian Open men’s or women’s singles title in the span of 44 years.
She said that her victory in becoming the 2021 Wimbledon winner “changed my perception” because , even after having achieved her personal goals in tennis however, she “wasn’t fully satisfied”.
Ashleigh Barty remains the world’s top player since she won the first Grand Slam at the French Open in the year 2019 – an uninterrupted streak of 114 weeks.
The only three players Steffi Graf Serena Williams (both 186 weeks) and Martina Navratilova (156) have been able to enjoy longer streaks as the world’s number one player in the women’s sport.
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Williams is the sole active female player who has been awarded major titles on grass, clay, and hard courts. when she announced retiring, Barty earned $23.8m (PS17.9m) in prize money.
“I am truly grateful for all the opportunities this sport has done for me, and leave feeling satisfied and happy,” added Barty, who also claimed the Grand Slam doubles title alongside American CoCo Vandeweghe in the 2017 US Open.
“I know the effort is needed to get your best self. I’ve shared this with my team numerous times: ‘I do not have that at all.’ Physically, there’s nothing more to offer. I’ve donated all I’ve got to this wonderful sport of tennis and I’m very happy about the result.
“For me, it’s my accomplishment. Thanks to all who have helped me throughout the process. I’ll be forever thankful for the lasting memories we shared with each other.”
“I don’t believe Barty will ever play again” – Analysis
Like many others,, my response is a huge shock. However, I doubt we’ll ever be seeing Barty playing tennis ever again. There was a sense that Barty would be a player who would retire early. It was not anticipated until 25 , however.
Wimbledon was the major aim, but Wimbledon was the main goal, and Australian Open was the icing on the cake.
It is important to remember that she had stopped playing the sport earlier, to concentrate on cricket, but also because she’d been struggling with home-sickness and depression.
It’s impossible to say no but she did say she wanted to live the next stage of her existence in the role of Ash Barty the person, instead of Ash Barty the athlete.
Legacy of the ‘ultimate competitor” – – reaction
The former British athlete Annabel Croft has said that she felt the “tennis tennis world has been in total shock” about Barty’s retirement, but she feels that the decision “makes the perfect sense” when she believes she’s not got anything left to offer.
Women’s Tennis Association head Steve Simon declared that Barty had been “one of the greatest champions”.
“Ashleigh Barty, who is known for her trademark slice backhand, in addition to being the best competitor and has always set the bar high by the unwavering professionalism and sporting spirit she brought to each game,” he said in an announcement.
Other Australian Grand Slam winners also made a tribute to Barty. The former US Open champion Sam Stosur has praised Barty’s “incredible career” and fifteen-time quad doubles Grand Slam champion Dylan Alcott declared that Barty was an “champion by every definition”.
Romanian Former world no. 1 Simona Halep added: “What’s next for you? Grand Slam champion in golf?”
It was reported that Great Britain’s Andy Murray reacted to the announcement by saying that the tennis player is “gutted by tennis” but was pleased for Barty.
Former French tennis player Marion Bartoli – who won Wimbledon in 2013 and then retired in the following months when she was 28 years old – claimed she could “absolutely connect” to Bartoli’s words.
“When I was victorious at Wimbledon in 2013, I felt an ember in my stomach, but it had gone away,” Bartoli told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast. “When you strive for something that’s so difficult to achieve over a long period of time and then you finally achieve it, you feel exhausted. It’s like feeling empty. For Ash who had her sights set on the Australian Open around the corner and she was certain that if she won it was the cherry on top.
“But the next day she was concerned that she was unable to maintain the level of work and effort required to stay on top in women’s field. Therefore, I completely be able to understand her choice.”
The Barty’s Australian Open win had cemented her standing as a hero of the nation. In a moment of emotion she was presented with the trophy by another Aboriginal Australian tennis champion and her mentor Evonne Goolagong .
A recent article by The Age newspaper revealed that the number of Australian youngsters playing tennis has grown by 30% over the last year. A lot of them come members of Indigenous communities, and a lot of them are girls.
“I’m extremely proud of the fact of being just a tiny part of helping more kids get involved in sport and following their dreams,” Barty told BBC Sport in January.
Ashleigh Barty was forced to take a break from tennis in 2014 due to the demands it imposes as well as playing in the first season of the Women’s Big Bash League.
She described it as “a completely different experience” from retiring on Wednesday. She added that tennis has “given me everything I’ve ever wanted and more”.
Belgian Justine Henin also retired from tennis as world number one at age of 25, but she announced she would be back to tennis one year later. She was able to retire for the second time in the year following.
A fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters retired at 23 years old in 2007, only to return two years later, and won all four of her Grand Slam singles titles after her return.
