No. 1 Tennis player Ashleigh Barty stunned everyone on Wednesday by announcing her early retirement from the sport at the age of 25. She dropped the bombshell weeks after becoming the first home-grown champion of the Australian Open in 44 years, joining tennis royalty’s most exclusive club with a Grand Slam crown on three different surfaces.
Ashleigh said, “I’m so happy, and I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart as a person, this is right. I’m so grateful for everything that tennis has given me, it’s given me all of my dreams plus more. But I know the time is now right for me to step away and chase other dreams and put the racquets down.”
She has been world’s number one for more than two years and retires after winning three Grand Slam singles titles – the French Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open this year in 2019, 2021 and 2022 respecrively.
“Thank you for being an incredible ambassador for this sport and for women around the world, We will miss you so much, Ash.” tweeted the Women’s Tennis Association.
Seen as one of the most respected and loved players , Barty rapidly became the best, with her dizzying array of slices, pinpoint serving and seamless forehand typifying her all-round game.