Australia’s Ashleigh Barty has announced her retirement from professional tennis. The 25-year-old made the announcement via an Instagram video. She had the interview with her best friend and former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua. The news of her retirement has left the tennis sport in complete shock.
With three grand slam titles, Barty is the fourth women’s tennis player to hold the number one spot for 114 consecutive weeks.
“I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more. I am spent.”
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She began her professional career in 2010 and has since won a number of titles. With 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles, Ashleigh Barty is the only player to win that amount of titles in that timespan. All three of her Grand Slam titles have come on three different surfaces.
“It’s the 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.”
At the age of 18, Ash took a short break away from the sport. During that break, she played some cricket with the Brisbane Heat of the Women’s Big Bash League. However, she returned to tennis and quickly made her way into the top 20 within two years of being back.
Leading up to her retirement, the Aussie was on a stretch of 25 unbeaten matches out of 26. Winning her recent trophy at the Australian Open this year, she became the first Australian to win the title in 44 years. This is one feat she will definitely be remembered for.
