This is an announcement that no one saw coming and many tennis fans must be wondering if all this is real. After winning the Australian Open just a few weeks ago, the world number 1 Ashleigh Barty just made a sensational announcement on his Instagram account.
In a 6-minute long video, the Australian explains that she has made the decision to end her career as a professional player. An early retirement that raises questions for the one who has already won three Grand Slam tournaments in her career, including Roland-Garros.
“I’m retiring from tennis”, she says from the first seconds of the video with a lot of emotion in her voice. In a kind of interview given by Casey Dellacqua, her former doubles partner, Ashleigh Barty explains that this decision came naturally to her. “I’m so happy and so ready. I just know that in my heart, for me as a person, it’s the right thing to do.”assures the tennis player whose last match will therefore remain her triumph on her native land at the Australian Open.
I’m exhausted. I have nothing more to give physically.
Ashleigh Barty thus chooses to leave at the peak of her career, like Marion Bartoli in her time or even Laure Manaudou in swimming. To make her decision clearly understood, the sportswoman believes that she has reached her limits on several essential aspects. “I no longer have the physical motivation, the emotional will and everything it takes to surpass myself at the highest level. I’m exhausted. I have nothing more to give physically.she explains.
It was ultimately this victory at the Australian Open that acted as the trigger for Ashleigh Barty. “There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite happy, that wasn’t quite fulfilled. And then came the challenge of the Australian Open. For me, that’s the most perfect way, my perfect way, to celebrate the incredible journey that my tennis career has been.”she concludes.