In a surprise announcement via Instagram, Ashley Barty, the world No. 1 in women’s tennis, announced her shocking decision to quit the sport a month before her 26th birthday while she holds the fourth-best record of 114 consecutive weeks Top of the WTA (121 overall).

The Wimbledon (2021), Australian Open (2022) and Roland Garros (2019) winner said she was full of emotions and experiences from tennis but felt it was time to take care of herself and take care of their mental health.

That means if the order in the WTA ranking changes, Maria Sakkari gains a spot and moves up to second place, only behind Poland’s Iga Swiodek, to whom she lost in Sunday’s Indian Wells final. So far the ranking is as follows:

The reasons that led Barty off the pitch

Barty with 3 Grand Slams and a total of 15 singles and 12 doubles titles ends a fantastic career that could have become a legend at 24 cm. Dollars only from cash prizes.

“Today is a difficult day for me as I announce my retirement from tennis. I didn’t know how to share the news with you, so I asked my good friend Casey Delacqua to help me. I’m grateful for what the sport has given me and I leave proud“Barty wrote in her original message who uploaded the video of the interview.

“This is the first time I’ve said this openly, and it’s not easy for me. But I’m so happy and so ready. I no longer have the physical, emotional motivation and everything I need to challenge myself at the highest level. No more. I emptied…‘ Barty said first to her compatriot.

It’s not the first time the Australian has given up tennis, having done so in her teens when she decided aged 18 to quit and play professional cricket, where she also excelled.

She never concealed the difficulties she faced when she had to travel and be away from her home in Queensland for long periods of time.

“I have many dreams that I want to pursue now that I don’t have to travel the world and be away from my family and home anymore. I will not stop loving tennis. It was an important part of my life, but it was time to enjoy the next phase of life and focus on Ashley as a person, not Ashley as an athlete.‘ he pointed out characteristically.

“I know I did it again, but now it’s a different feeling. I am so thankful for what tennis has given me. More than I dreamed but now I know it’s the right time to retire and pursue my other dreams. It’s time to drop them and move on‘ Barty adds.

Barty’s last match was a win over Daniel Collins in the final of the 2022 Australian Open, in which the Australian ended her compatriots’ 44-year wait for the Melbourne tennis title.

It remains to be seen if Barty will request removal of her name from the WTA rankings. When something like that is asked, Iga Sviodek becomes the new No. 1 in the world rankings and Maria Sakkari rises to No. 2!

Source: Tennis24