The first woman in the world decides to retire from tennis at the age of 25
Australian Ashleigh Barty shocked the tennis world yesterday, after the world number one decided to end her career in the courts at only 25 years, a few weeks after her historic crowning of the Australian Open title.
"Today is a difficult and emotional day for me as I announce my retirement from tennis," Barty said in a video on Instagram.
In the touching video, which she filmed alongside her best friend and former doubles partner, Casey Delacqua, Barty said she was "grateful for everything the sport has given me".
"I'm so happy and so ready and I know right now in my heart as a person, it's the right move. I am so grateful for everything tennis has given me. You've given me everything I dreamed of and more. But I know it's time for me to step away and chase other dreams and be I put the racket aside."
The Australian has been on the top of the WTA rankings for more than two years, and she retires with three major titles in her pocket, at French Roland Garros in 2019, Wimbledon in England in 2021 and the Australian Open at the beginning of this year, when she became the first Australian to win her country's championship in 44 years. Especially since Chris O'Neill in 1978.
It was Barty's third major Australian Open title on a different ground, to join Serena Williams, the only one of the current players to have won on three different grounds.
And the WTA on Twitter sent a message to Barty after her shocking decision, saying: "Thank you for being a wonderful ambassador for this sport and for women around the world. We will miss you very much, Ash."
Barty is widely regarded as one of the most popular tennis players.
Late last year, she bonded with her longtime boyfriend Gary Kesick, who was always present in the stands to cheer her up and often posted messages of support on social media.
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