Ash Barty has announced his retirement from professional tennis.
Following his recent success at both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, the 25-year-old will put the rackets down and focus on other goals.
Barty announced the news via social media on Wednesday, sending shock waves through the tennis world in Australia and abroad.
“Today is difficult and full of emotions for me as I announce my retirement from tennis,” Barty said via Instagram.
“I was not sure how to share this news with you, so I asked my good friend Casey Dellacqua to help me.
“I am so grateful for all that this sport has given me and I feel proud and satisfied.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I will always be grateful for the lifelong memories we have created together.
“There is no right or wrong way – only my way. This is the first time I’ve actually said it out loud, and it’s hard to say.
“I’m so happy and so ready – I know right now in my heart for me as a person that this is right.
“I know I’ve done this before, but a very different feeling. I’m so grateful for all that tennis has given me – it’s given me all my dreams plus more.
“I know the time is right now for me to step away and pursue other dreams.
“More to come tomorrow at my press conference.”
See the full message from Barty below.
Barty leaves the sport with three Grand Slam titles.
Barty revealed that the internal thoughts had been there since he won Wimbledon, and believes that going out with a title in his home country is the perfect way to end it.
“It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time,” she said.
“I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career – Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and me as an athlete.
“Being able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream and the only true dream, really changed my perspective.
“I’ve had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and have talked a lot with my team about it – there was just a small part of me that was not completely satisfied and was not completely satisfied.
“Then came the challenge from the Australian Open and I think it feels to me like the most perfect way, my perfect way, to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been.
“I want to chase some other dreams that I have always wanted to make.”
With a potential career in cricket back to focus on tennis many years ago, it looks like Barty may be on his way back to his second passion after achieving such great success on the court.