In a surprise announcement, Ash Barty, the number 1-ranked player in women's tennis, announced her retirement from the game on Wednesday.
Barty, who is 25, had won the Australian Open just two months ago; it was her third Grand Slam.
Barty announced her retirement in a video uploaded on Instagram. She was quoted by Associated Press as saying “I’m so happy and I’m so ready. I just know at the moment, in my heart, for me as a person, this is right.”
Barty noted it was time to “chase other dreams”. She said “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... I'll never, ever stop loving tennis, it's been a massive part of my life, but I think it's important that I get to enjoy the next part of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete,” Reuters reported.
Barty even acknowledged she had left the game before. Barty was the Wimbledon junior champion in 2011, but left the game in 2014 for nearly two years, complaining of burnout. “I know I’ve done this before... but in a very different feeling. I’m so grateful to everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams, plus more, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to, yeah, put the rackets down,” she said.
Barty won 15 WTA singles titles and 12 in doubles. She spent 121 weeks as world number 1, including the last 114 weeks in a row. Barty had won 25 of her last 26 matches and three of her last four events.
WTA chief Steve Simon described Barty as being synonymous with sportsmanship. “Ashleigh Barty with her signature slice backhand, complemented by being the ultimate competitor, has always led by example through the unwavering professionalism and sportsmanship she brought to every match... With her accomplishments at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals, and reaching the pinnacle ranking of No.1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one the great champions of the WTA,” Simon said.
Cricket detour
Interestingly, Barty even played professional cricket in her native Australia after leaving tennis as a junior. She played for the Brisbane Heat team in the Women’s Big Bash League T20 competition.
