“I am so grateful for all that this sport has given me and I feel proud and satisfied. Thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way, I will always be grateful for the lifelong memories we have created together.”
The post featured a video filmed with retired Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua in which Barty further explains his decision.
“There was a change of perspective in me in the second phase of my career that my happiness was not dependent on the results and success for me is knowing that I have given absolutely everything I can,” she said.
“I know how much work it takes to get the best out of yourself. I’ve said it to my team several times, I just do not have it in me anymore. I do not have the physical drive, the emotional desires, and everything. “what it takes to challenge yourself to the very top of the level anymore and I just know I’m used to it. I just know physically I have nothing more to give. It’s a success for me.”
She added that she had been thinking about retiring for “a long time” and the decision was cemented after winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open this year. These victories were “my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been,” she said.
The decision was difficult but felt right, she said. “Ash Barty, the person, has so many dreams that she would like to pursue that do not necessarily involve traveling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, which is where I have always wanted to be . “
“Ashleigh Barty with her distinctive backhand, complemented by being the ultimate competitor, has always set a good example through the unwavering professionalism and sportsmanship she added to every match,” said WTA President and CEO Steve Simon in the announcement.
“With her performances at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals and reaching the top position as No. 1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one of the great champions of the WTA.”
Barty has won three major singles titles – 2019 French Open, 2021 Wimbledon and 2022 Australian Open. In total, she has won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, and was the first Australian to win the Australian Open singles title since 1978.
She is only the second reigning world No. 1 in the women’s fight to retire at the top, after Justine Henin, who retired in 2008.
Barty, who started his professional tennis career in 2010, took a break from the sport from 2014 to 2016 and said “it was too much too fast,” according to the WTA release. Only 18 at the time, she wanted to “experience life as a normal teenage girl,” she said.
She returned to full-time tennis in 2017 – and continued to dominate the sport, winning 25 of her last 26 matches.