The world of tennis, and of sport in general, wakes up shocked this Wednesday after Ashleigh Barty’s announcement. The WTA world number one and winner of three Grand Slams has announced that he is retiring from professional tennis despite being only 25 years old. Barty, who had not played a match since last January 29, when she was proclaimed champion of the Australian Open, had commented that she would not be on the North American tour as she had not recovered well. However, In a video posted on her Instagram account this morning, the Australian has announced that she will never return to the slopes.
“Today is a complicated day, full of emotions because I’m retiring from tennis. It’s the first time I’ve said it and it’s hard to say. I’m very happy and ready, in my heart I know it’s timeI know it’s right. I am very grateful for everything that tennis has given me, but I know that it is time to step aside and pursue other dreams”, an emotional Barty began in the published video. For six minutes, The Australian chats with her compatriot and former tennis player Casey Dellacqua to fully explain your decision.
Why now, Dellacqua asks Barty, who has amassed 119 weeks as world No. 1. “I have been thinking about it for a long time. I have had many incredible moments in my career,” Barty begins to explain, pointing to his victory at the All England Club in 2021 as a turning point. “Wimbledon last year changed me a lot, winning it was my real dream, and after that edition it changed my perspective. I had a hunch in me, there was a part of me that was not satisfied, that was not complete. The challenge of the Australian Open has arrived, which is my perfect way to celebrate the incredible journey that my tennis career has been. I want to pursue other dreams.” says Barty, pointing to his victory last January in his country as the perfect finishing touch.
The last question Barty answers is about how difficult it has been to make the decision to retire. “There has been a change of perspective in my career, my happiness did not depend on the results. For me, success is knowing that I have given everything. I know all the work it takes to give the best of oneself. I no longer have in me that physical, emotional motivation that is required to be at the top. I am exhausted, I have nothing more to give, and that for me is success, having given everything I have to tennis.” narrates the Australian, who explains that her decision may not be understood. “People may not understand it and that’s fine with me, but I know that I have many dreams to pursue that do not include having to travel, being away from my family and home, which is where I always want to be. I will never stop loving tennis, it will be an important part of my life, but now I want to enjoy the next phase of my life,” says Barty on the verge of tears.
In this way the Australian closes a successful, fleeting and atypical career. From June 2019 to today, Barty has always been number one in the world, except for four weeks. At 25 years old, Ashleigh has lifted a Roland Garros (2019), a Wimbledon (2021) and the Australian Open this year, in addition to the 2019 WTA Finals. At just 15 years old, Barty was already playing the most relevant tournaments. He began by standing out in doubles, a modality in which in 2013 he reached three Grand Slam finals without having reached the age of majority (partnering with Dellacqua, precisely). He also won the 2018 US Open in doubles and the Olympic bronze at the last Tokyo Games in the mixed category. Barty brings the curtain to her career having won 15 singles titles on the WTA Tour, to which he adds 12 more in doubles.
Before this withdrawal, Barty has already walked away from tennis on other occasions. From September 2014 to February 2016, the Australian removed her racket from her life, claiming that she needed some time to refresh her mind. Those months were spent in his country, where he began to play cricket in a semi-professional way, and coming to sign for the Brisbane Heat. She was also sidelined in 2020, following the explosion of the COVID-19 pandemic. When the official competitions returned, Barty decided not to participate in any so as not to have to travel and leave his country, reaching 11 months without competing. Now, for the third time, the 25-year-old tennis player announces that she is hanging up her racket. Although, this time, she does it definitively.
#Ashleigh #Barty #number #world #announces #retirement