World Number One Tennis Star Ashleigh Barty Announces Shock Retirement At 25

23rd March 2022

She dropped the bombshell weeks after becoming the first home Australian Open champion in 44 years, joining only a handful of players to win a Grand Slam on three different surfaces

Ashleigh Barty. PHOTO | BBC
Ashleigh Barty. PHOTO | BBC
SUMMARY
  • World Number One Ashleigh Barty shocked the entire tennis fraternity on Wednesday as she announced her retirement from the sport at the tender age of 25
  • The Australian Barty said she had fulfilled her dreams and was "spent physically" in an emotional social media video message with her close friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua
  • Barty has been world number one for more than two years and said after her Australian Open win that she wanted time to consider her next move, withdrawing from the prestigious early season hardcourt tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami

World Number One Ashleigh Barty shocked the entire tennis fraternity on Wednesday as she announced her retirement from the sport at the tender age of 25.

The Australian Barty said she had fulfilled her dreams and was "spent physically" in an emotional social media video message with her close friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.

She dropped the bombshell weeks after becoming the first home Australian Open champion in 44 years, joining only a handful of players to win a Grand Slam on three different surfaces.

"Success for me is knowing that I’ve given absolutely everything, everything I can. I’m fulfilled, I’m happy and I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself.

"It’s just I don’t have that in me anymore. 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," said the three-time Grand Slam winner.

"I think I just know that I’m absolutely, I am spent. I just know physically I had nothing more to give and that for me is success," she added.

One of the most respected and popular players in women’s tennis, Barty also became the best, with her dizzying array of slices, pinpoint serving and seamless forehand typifying her all-round game.

The world number one said she was “so ready” to call it quits after achieving her life-time ambition of winning Wimbledon last year.

Barty began playing tennis as a child in Brisbane and went on to win the junior Wimbledon title as a 15-year-old in 2011.

But the expectations that came with success took their toll and she made a shock decision three years later to ditch tennis for cricket, signing for Brisbane Heat in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League.

Barty finally won a cherished Wimbledon crown last year before her Australian Open triumph at Melbourne Park in January, storming back from 5-1 down in the second set against American Danielle Collins to triumph 6-3, 7-6 (7/2).

“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” she said of retirement.

“To be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective. And I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it.

Barty has been world number one for more than two years and said after her Australian Open win that she wanted time to consider her next move, withdrawing from the prestigious early season hardcourt tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.

Late last year she became engaged to long-term boyfriend Garry Kissick, who was ever-present courtside when she played and often posted supportive messages on social media.