- 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.
In a six-minute film on Instagram, Barty is interviewed by Casey Dellacqua - compatriot, former tennis player and now expert commentator.
"Something has happened to my focus during the latter part of my career - how happy I am no longer depends on the results," says Barty.
- I know how much work is required to bring out the best in one and I do not have it in me anymore.
I do not have the physical drive, the emotional desire or everything that is required to challenge oneself at that level, she continues.
Historic at home
25-year-old Barty made history as recently as January when she became the first Australian to win the Australian Open in Melbourne in 44 years.
- For me, it felt like the most perfect way, my perfect way, to celebrate my tennis career and what a fantastic trip it has been, says Barty.
It was the third grand slam title for the Australian who won the French championships in 2019 and won Wimbledon last year.
She has thus won grand slam tournaments on all three surfaces - hardcourt, gravel and grass.
Only Serena Williams has succeeded with all the active women's players.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Barty announced that she would be taking a break from tennis.
Nobody expected then that the break would become permanent.
- I'm done.
I have nothing more to give, she says now.
- For me it is success - I have given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport, Barty continues.
Other dreams to hunt
This is not the first time Barty has resigned.
As an 18-year-old, she stopped playing after the US Open in 2014. That time the stop lasted for two years and in the meantime she played for the cricket team Brisbane Heat in the cricket form known as T20.
- I have done this before, but it feels very different now, she says.
She explains that there are other things that attract now and that the drive to be the best in tennis is no longer strong enough.
- People may not understand, but it's okay because I know that Ash Barty as a person has a lot of other dreams to pursue, which does not necessarily mean traveling the world and being away from family and home.
- I will never stop loving tennis, it will always be a big part of my life, she says.
MORE TENNIS: Ashleigh Barty wins Australian Open
Javascript is disabled
Javascript must be turned on to play video
Read more about browser support
The browser is not supported
SVT does not support playback in your browser.
We therefore recommend that you switch to a different browser.
Read more about browser support
Ashleigh Barty wins Australian Open Photo: Bildbyrån