On Wednesday morning came the news that Ashleigh Barty is ending her career.
In a six-minute film on Instagram, she talks about the decision.
- Tennis has let all my dreams come true, but I know that now is the time to chase other dreams, and that yes, put away the racket, says Ash Barty.
Now she is hailed by former tennis star Johanna Larsson, who also ended her career at an early age.
- Completely incomparable career.
Precisely the fact that she is so good so early and chooses to quit, due to pressure and that she loses her love of the sport.
Then she comes back again and plays the way she does, it's just her hat off.
Had she continued to play, she would probably have had ten grand slam titles, I am completely convinced of that.
It is a tough break for tennis, a profile that disappears, says Johanna Larsson to SVT Sport.
"Maybe what we both came up with"
But the former Swedish tennis star understands the decision.
- She has always been clear that she does not like to travel so much and that she is very family-loving.
To be at that level and perform at the top she has done, it takes an incredible amount of work.
I myself felt that I was done.
There is something more in life than just tennis.
It takes an incredible amount of time and a lot from oneself.
If you feel that you need to sacrifice and miss things, it will not be as fun either and that is perhaps what we both came to, says Larsson.
Johanna Larsson made her last appearance in world tennis in February 2020. She could then look back on 14 double titles, two single titles and a 45th place in the world rankings as the highest ranking.
Clip: Watch as Ashleigh Barty wins the Australian Open earlier this year (January 29, 2022)
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Ashleigh Barty wins Australian Open Photo: Bildbyrån