Ash Barty, World No. 1 player, stuns the tennis world, announces retirement at 25

Ash Barty has left the tennis world in a frenzy with her sudden retirement announcement at the age of 25. The current world number 1 hasn’t played since winning the Australian Open in January, and she recently confirmed she won’t be competing in Indian Wells or Miami this month. In a shocking announcement on Wednesday, Barry said, “I’m so happy and I’m so ready. I just know at the moment, in my heart, for me as a person, this is right,” Barty said, her voice was shaky at times, during a six-minute video posted on her Instagram account.

In November, just before the Australian Open, Barty announced her engagement to Garry Kissick, trainee golf professional. Barty had taken a break from tennis earlier too. She won the Wimbledon junior title at the age of 15 in 2011, indicating the start of a potential professional career. However, she departed the tour for nearly two years in 2014 due to burnout; overwhelmed by the pressure and travel involved. Apparently, it seems like that’s not the case this time.

“It’s the first time I’ve actually said it out loud and, yeah, it’s hard to say,” Barty said on her decision to retire; which she announced during an informal interview with her former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua. “I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want, and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level anymore. I am spent.”

Time to chase other dreams 

“I know I’ve done this before,” Barty said with a laugh in the retirement video, “but in a very different feeling. I’m so grateful for everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams, plus more; but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to, yeah, put the rackets down.”

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