Queensland, March 23: Ashleigh Barty, the outgoing Australian tennis player, on Wednesday said that the time is right for her retire from the sport as she wants to chase other dreams. The 25-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner sat down with her long-time friend and former tennis player Casey Dellacqua to drop the bombshell news in a video interview shared on Instagram.
“There’s no right way, there’s no wrong way. It’s just my way. That’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, and it’s hard to say,” Barty said.
“But I’m so happy, and I’m so ready, and I just know at the moment in my heart (that) for me as a person, this is right. “I know I’ve done this before, but in a very different feeling, and I’m so grateful for everything tennis has given me – it’s given me all my dreams plus more. The time is right for me to step away and chase other dreams and put the racquet down.”
The Australian won three Grand Slam singles titles on three different surfaces – 2019 Roland Garros, 2021 Wimbledon and most recently the Australian Open in 2022 – and spent 121 total weeks atop the WTA Rankings. Barty’s most recent triumph at the Australian Open will likely be remembered as her most impactful victory as she became the first Australian to win the title at her home Grand Slam event in 44 years, and in convincing fashion without dropping a set. “It’s something I’ve been thinking for a long time and I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments.
Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and as an athlete when you work so hard your whole life for one goal. I’ve been able to share that with so many incredible people but to be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective. I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it. “There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled,” she said. “And then came the challenge of the Australian Open (2022), and I think that for me just feels like the perfect way, my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been.” She has become the second reigning World No.1 ranked woman to retire while gracing the top of the WTA Rankings.
Justine Henin retired on May 14, 2008, after spending 61 consecutive weeks at No.1. Across all-levels of play, Barty posted a 305-102 record in singles and a 200-64 record in doubles.
“There was a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results and success for me is knowing that I’ve given absolutely everything I can. I’m fulfilled, I’m happy and I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself. I’ve said it to my team multiple times, it’s just I don’t have that in me any more,” she said.
“I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more. “I just know that I’m absolutely – I’m spent – I just know physically I’ve nothing more to give. And that to me is success. I have given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I’m happy with it. That is my success. I know that people may not understand and that’s okay. I’m okay with that because for me, Ash Barty the person has so many dreams that she wants to chase after and that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home which is where I always wanted to be.
“I’ll never stop loving tennis. It’ll always be a massive part of my life. But now I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not as Ash Barty the athlete,” she signed off. UNI
