Tennis: World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty announces shock retirement at just 25
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MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Australiaâs world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has retired at the age of 25 and at the peak of her game, citing the fulfilment of her tennis goals and fatigue with life on the Tour.
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She quits with 15 titles, less than two months after winning the Australian Open, her third Grand Slam singles triumph following Wimbledon in 2021 and the 2019 French Open.
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âI know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself ... I donât have that in me anymore,â she said in a video posted on her Instagram account on Wednesday (March 23).
âI donât have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more. I am spent.â
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It marks Bartyâs second retirement from the sport, having walked away from the game as a teenager in late-2014 after becoming disaffected by the Tour.
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She returned in 2016 and rose rapidly up the rankings, earning global acclaim for her brilliant tennis and fansâ affection for her unfailing good sportmanship and laid-back demeanour.
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She spent a total of 121 weeks as world No. 1Â Â and appeared destined for more success in the gameâs biggest tournaments.
However, she never made any secret of her dislike for the touring life and her battles with homesickness.
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âAsh Barty the person has so many dreams she wants to chase after that donât necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, which is where Iâve always wanted to be,â she said in the video, interviewed by her close friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.
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âIâll never, ever stop loving tennis, itâs been a massive part of my life, but I think itâs important that I get to enjoy the next part of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete.â
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Barty suffered depression on the Tour after turning professional as a teenager, leading her to quit and briefly reinvent herself as a professional cricketer in her home state of Queensland.
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When the Covid-19 pandemic halted elite tennis in 2020, she took nearly a year off from the game to spend time with family rather than rejoin the circuit after it resumed.
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âI know Iâve done this before, but in a different feeling,â she said.
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âIâm so grateful for tennis, itâs given me all of my dreams, plus more, but I know the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the racquets down.â
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She bows out having earned almost US$24 million (S$32.6 million)Â in career prize money and as a national hero having ended a 44-year wait for a home winner at the Australian Open in January by beating American Danielle Collins in the final.
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As the second Aboriginal Australian to win a Grand Slam title, following in the footsteps of the great Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Barty has also become an idol for her countryâs Indigenous population.
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Bartyâs bombshell triggered tributes from players and officials.
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âHappy for @ashbarty, gutted for tennis,â said Briton Andy Murray. âWhat a player.â
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WTA boss Steve Simon said Barty always led by example âthrough the unwavering professionalism and sportsmanship she brought to every match.
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âWith 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.â
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Her retirement echoes Justine Heninâs decision to quit in 2008 as a 25-year-old world No. 1 with seven Grand Slam titles. Henin came out of retirement in 2010, inspired by fellow Belgian Kim Clijstersâ comeback.
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2005 USÂ Open champion Clijsters retired in 2007 at the age of 23 but returned after a two-year hiatus to claim another three Grand Slam titles.
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Auto, H. (2022b, March 23). Tennis: World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty announces shock retirement at just 25. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/tennis-world-no-1-ashleigh-barty-announces-shock-retirement-at-just-25