Australia’s world number one Ash Barty has decided to retire from professional tennis at the age of 25.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
“Current WTA world number one Ashleigh Barty has today announced her retirement from professional tennis following a remarkable career at the top of the women’s game,” the WTA said in a statement this afternoon.
In a statement on Instagram, Barty said today was “difficult and filled with emotion for me” as I announce my retirement from tennis.
“I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I’ll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together.”
Barty will hold a press conference tomorrow.
“I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level anymore,” she told close friend Casey Dellacqua in an Instagram video.
“I just know I am absolutely spent. I know physically I have nothing more to give and that for me is success. I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I’m really happy with that.
“I’m so happy, I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person that this is right,” Barty added.
“I’ve done this before but [this is] a very different feeling. I’m so grateful for everything tennis has given me.
“It’s given me all of my dreams and more, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams, and put the racquet down.”
Barty finishes her career with three major singles titles – the French Open (2019), Wimbledon (2021) and this year’s Australian Open.
“I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments, and Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and an athlete,” she said.
“When you work so hard your whole life for one goal … to be able to win Wimbledon, which was the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective.
“I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and there was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, that wasn’t quite fulfilled.”
– ABC
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
Denial of responsibility! NewsBit.us is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
