Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty says her retirement from professional tennis felt at 25 immediately after winning at Wimbledon changed her perspective
World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty says her retirement from professional tennis felt at 25 immediately after winning at Wimbledon changed her perspective
Tributes were paid to Ashleigh Barty from the tennis world and beyond after the shock decision to withdraw the world number 1 from the sport.
The reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion posted the announcement with a video on her Instagram account to end a career where she won three Grand Slams and won over $ 23m (£ 17.39m) in prize money at the age of deserved. 25.
Two-time Grand Slam winners Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep were among the contestants to praise Barty and send her best wishes as the Australian enters the next phase of her life.
“Ash, I have no words … in fact you are showing your true class to leave tennis in this beautiful way,” Kvitova wrote on her Twitter account.
“I’m so glad I could share the court with you .. Tennis will never be the same without you! I admire you as a player and as a person .. wish you all the best!”
Halep meanwhile wondered if there would be another sportsman for Barty, who played a stint for cricket for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League during a break from tennis in 2015 and is a four-handicap golfer.
“Ash, what can I say, you know I have tears?” Halep posted on her Twitter account. “My friend, I’ll miss you on tour.
“You were different, and special, and we shared some amazing moments. What’s next for you? Grand Slam Champion in Golf ?!”
Other players to send tribute to Barty after her retirement announcement included compatriot Daria Saville and world No. 8 Karolina Pliskova.
“So much respect to you Ash!” Saville wrote. “Your whole career has made it your way! Always follow your heart and I hope you keep doing it!”
Pliskova added: “Congratulations on an incredible career Ash. It was a privilege to share a court with you. Wish you all the best in your next chapter, @ashbarty. You will be missed.”
April 2000: Starts playing tennis at age four at West Brisbane Tennis Center with coach Jim Joyce.
April 2010: Becomes professional at just 14 years old and reaches semi-finals in only her second tournament.
July 2011: Defeat Irina Khromacheva in girls’ singles final at Wimbledon 7-5 7-6.
September 2014: Announced that she’s going into a tennis hiatus as she picks up cricket and signs with Brisbane Heat for the first Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) season in 2015.
February 2016: Announcing that she will return to professional tennis at the end of the WBBL season, explains the success she achieved so early in her career, overwhelmed her and took a step back.
February 2017: Won their first WTA title at the Malaysian Open and climbed to number 17 in the world.
June 2019: Becomes the first Australian woman in 46 years to win the French Open after defeating Marketa Vongdrousova 6-1 6-3.
July 2021: Beats Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-7 6-3 to become the first Australian woman to win Wimbledon in 41 years.
January 2022: Beats American Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 (7-2) to win the Australian Open title, becoming the first home player to win the event in 44 years.
Former World No. 1 Tracy Austin is without a doubt Barty missing out on court and praising her approach to her sport and life in general.
“Lucky for you, @ashbarty to stand out on your terms, but the tennis world will miss a great champion,” Austin wrote.
“Love your elegant, athletic style of play and have always been impressed with the way you handle yourself on and off the court. Enjoy the next chapter.”
It was a view repeated by British former men No. 1 Andy Murray, who simply wrote: “Happy for @ashbarty, gutted for tennis. What a player.”
Account: A great way to retire
Former British number 1 Johanna Konta said it would be a “surprise” to hear of the retirement of her former opponent, but added that it would be “a great way” for the Australian to leave the sport.
Konta, who played four times against Barty, announced her own retirement in December last year at the age of 30.
“When you hear an athlete announce their retirement, whether people expect it or not, it’s always a surprise,” Konta said. Sky Sports News. “But Ash is so young, she’s the current number 1 in the world, she just won the first slam of the year, so in that sense it’s surprising, but it’s obviously the right decision for her.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Former British number one Johanna Konta says Barty chose a “great way” to go out.
“What a great way to retire – on your own terms and to thank you very much, but I’m looking forward to something else.
“She’s one of the most talented, talented players on tour. Her ability to play tennis, to see what’s going on in court, and to be able to solve problems and just keep her level so high throughout the season, throughout the matches, tournaments – I think that’s what made her such a strong and dominant No. 1 world. “
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) CEO Steve Simon welcomed Barty’s contribution to the sport and wished him well for the future.
“With her achievements at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals and the Pinnacle ranking of the No. 1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one of the great champions of the WTA,” said Simon.
“We wish Ash all the best and know that she will continue to be a great ambassador for the sport of tennis as she begins the new chapter of her life. We will miss her.”
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley admitted his surprise at Barty’s retirement announcement that she was there to witness that she became the first home player for 44 years to win the Australian Open in January, but expected her to excel in everything she pursued thereafter .
Barty celebrated the Australian Open in January
“One of the highlights of my career was standing next to her after she won and I never thought that three months later we would have had this conversation about Ash’s retirement,” Tiley said. Sky News Australia.
“It’s once in a lifetime that someone like Ash comes in. But whatever she does, she will achieve great things and we respect her decision.”
Away from tennis, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to Barty, who is of native descent, citing her as an inspiring figure to so many people.
“I want to say a special ‘thank you’, Ash, for inspiring a generation of young people and especially a generation of young indigenous peoples in this country,” Morrison said.
“Of course, none of us will forget the triumphant victory at Wimbledon and none of us will ever forget the incredible comeback at the Australian Open this year, which once again showed everyone what you can do if you really make a difference.
Add Comment