In news that has shocked the sports world, recent Australian Open winner and current World Number One women’s tennis player, Ash Barty, has announced her retirement from the sport. Given her relatively young age and obvious potential, this news has floored the tennis community, both locally and abroad.

This announcement is shaking the world of tennis as it has come seemingly out of nowhere. Barty wasn’t injured in any major way, nor had she suffered a career setback due to any sort of controversy. In fact, Barty is a role model both within her sport and without.

The news comes via the Australian superstar’s Instagram account,

Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis. I wasn’t sure how to share this news with you so I asked my good friend @caseydellacqua to help me. 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 ?

More to come tomorrow at my press conference.

Stunning the World

Interviewed in a video post by friend and fellow tennis player Casey Dellacqua, Barty becomes emotional as she reflects on her career and achievements.

“It’s hard to say, but I’m so happy and I’m so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart, for me as a person, this is right. I know I’ve done this (retired) before but in a very different feeling and I am so grateful to everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams, plus more, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the racquets down.”

Ultimately concluding that she is going out on top, having achieved her personal goal of winning both Wimbledon and the Australian Open. This was a primary factor in her decision to pursue other dreams.

She describes how Wimbledon in 2021 as a turning point for her.

when you work so hard your whole life for one goal… To be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream — the one, true dream I wanted in tennis — that really changed my perspective. I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it. There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled. And then came the challenge of the Australian Open. That for me just feels like the perfect way — my perfect way — to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been. As a person, this is what I want. I want to chase after some other dreams that I’ve always wanted to do, and always had that really healthy balance, but I’m really, really excited.”

Gaining Perspective in her Second Phase

After already having retired from the sport once, Barty said her return afforded her a unique perspective on her game; a freedom of sorts. Instead of being results-oriented, she redefined the parameters of what success meant to her as an athlete, which was quite simply to give absolutely everything she had and leave it all out on the court, so to speak.

She also added that after the two major wins in the past year, she was physically “spent” – a fact she’s made no secrets of previously, after the earlier announcement of her taking some time off the major American tours for recovery purposes. However, no one expected the break to be a permanent one.

The World Reacts

Both sports and media personalities from Australia and abroad have taken to social media to express their shock and disbelief, as well as praising Barty’s career and expressing respect for her decision.

Women’s Tennis Association chief executive Steve Simon tells ABC,

“We wish Ash only the very best and know that she will continue to be a tremendous ambassador for the sport of tennis as she embarks on this new chapter of her life.”

Australian tennis champion Dylan Alcott says,

“Ash Barty. Amazing tennis player but even better person. A champion in every sense of the word. Very proud of you mate.”

American tennis player Madison Keys says via ESPN,

“An incredible tennis player but more importantly one of the nicest people on tour.”

Romanian tennis player Simona Halep says,

“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”

In addition to these posts, the comments section of the announcement video has been flooded with supportive comments, praising the athlete for her career and wishing her luck in the next phase of her life. Whatever that may be, I’m sure with her attitude and tenacity, it will be well worth watching.

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