Barty stuns the tennis world as she retires at age 25

World no. 1 Ash Barty has shocked the tennis world after announcing that she is retiring from tennis at just 25-years of age.

Barty last played at the Australian Open when she claimed the title to end a long drought for Australian players.

Barty made the announcement in an interview with long time friend Casey Dellacqua.

The following was posted on Barty’s instagram profile.

“Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis. I wasn’t sure how to share this news with you so I asked my good friend @caseydellacqua to help me. I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I’ll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together.

 “Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and for me as an athlete,” Barty said. “When you work so hard your whole life for one goal. 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. There was a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career, that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results.”

“I’ll never, ever, ever stop loving tennis. It will always be a massive part of my life but now I think it’s important I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete.”

The reaction from the tennis world showed what a class act Barty is. All the players had kind words to say about Barty’s decision to retire.

Here at Robicia Tennis we first had the pleasure to see Barty in person during the 2018 Fed Cup tie in Canberra. It was Barty that carried Australia that weekend to see them defeat Ukraine.

Barty’s biggest regret was probably losing the 2019 Fed Cup final to France.

Kiki Mladenovic stunned Barty 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1) in an epic two-and-a-half hour singles battle at RAC Arena to put France ahead in the best-of-five rubbers final.

But put that behind her, she went on to win Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2022.

All the best to a true champion.