The Australian tennis player Ashleigh Barty, number one in the WTA ranking, announced his retirement at the age of 25. She did it with a video message on Instagram. “Today is a difficult and exciting day for me because I am announcing my retirement from tennis,” she said of the Australian. “I am so happy and ready and I am aware, deep down I know it is the right choice for me as a person. I no longer have the emotional desire to compete at the highest level,” she added, explaining that she is “grateful to tennis, which has made all my dreams come true, but I know it’s time to hang up the racket and chase other dreams. “
Ashleigh Barty retires, the reactions of the tennis world
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The announcement of Barthy, the first to leave number 1 after Justine Henin (2008), comes less than two months after the victory at the Australian Open, her home tournament (she was the first Australian to win the trophy 44 years after Chris O’Neil), third career Grand Slam title after successes at Roland Garros (2019) and Wimbledon (2021). “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time – continues Barty -. The victory at Wimbledon last year changed me a lot as a person and as an athlete. I thought about it a lot after Wimbledon, I talked about it to my team, but I felt that something was missing, that I was not completely satisfied. Then came the challenge of the Australian Open, and I think it was the most perfect way to celebrate the wonderful journey of my tennis career. “
Ash, what can I say, you know I have tears right? My friend, I will miss you on tour. You were different, and special, and we shared some amazing moments. What’s next for you? Grand Slam champion in golf?! Be happy and enjoy your life to the max xo Simo@ashbarty pic.twitter.com/WbX7kXnJ1l
– Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) March 23, 2022
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In total, the Australian won 15 titles – with a total prize pool of almost $ 24 million – which leaves her with a budget of 305 wins and 102 defeats. “I have said this to my team several times – he continues – I don’t have that desire, that push that is necessary to keep surpassing each other every time. Physically I have nothing more to give, I have given everything to tennis, I am happy, and this is my success. Someone may not understand and I understand it. But for me, Ash Barty, there are so many dreams that don’t include traveling the world to play tennis, staying away from my family and home. I will never stop loving tennis, it has been a fundamental part of my life and always will be, but now I want to enjoy the next chapter of my life as Ash Barty the person, and not Ash Barty the athlete “.
Barty, who was unbeaten this season (11 wins and victory in Adelaide as well as Melbourne) had left tennis to pursue a professional cricket career in 2014, but had retraced his steps two years later.
Efforts from number 1 A year on the road for Barty
by Paolo Rossi
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Considered one of the strongest tennis players of her generation, she is the eighth in history with more weeks in first place in the world ranking (119) and the fourth in history to finish at the top of the ranking for three consecutive years, after Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf and Serena Williams.
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