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MASON, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Ashleigh Barty of Australia wipes the sweat from her face against Jil Teichmann of Switzerland during the women’s singles finals of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 22, 2021 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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MASON, OHIO – AUGUST 22: Ashleigh Barty of Australia wipes the sweat from her face against Jil Teichmann of Switzerland during the women’s singles finals of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 22, 2021 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Ashleigh Barty has been one of the most successful and consistent players on the WTA tour in recent times. In what can be considered the saddest news in tennis today, the World No. 1 decided to leave the sport. She announced her retirement and addressed the reason behind her actions in a tearful interview with her former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.
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“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,” she said in the interview to Dellacqua.
Having understood the turmoil of constantly being on tour as a high-performance athlete, Barty believes she lost the zeal to bring out the best in her.
“I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself… I’ve said it to my team multiple times – `I just don’t have that in me anymore.’ Physically, I have nothing more to give. I’ve given absolutely everything I have to this beautiful sport of tennis, and I’m really happy with that.”
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Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 27, 2022 Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in action during her semi final match against Madison Keys of the U.S. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
At the beginning of her career, Barty had tremendous success playing doubles with Dellacqua as they reached the finals of Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Before cracking into the top 200 in women’s singles, the Australian star took a break from tennis.
Dive deeper: Australian Open Champion Ashleigh Barty Announces Shock Retirement at the Age of 25
Ashleigh Barty wants to enjoy the next phase of my life
Her current reign as the World No. 1 is the fourth-longest in WTA history. She recently made headlines by winning the 2022 Australian Open year and thus becoming the first Australian woman since 1978 to win at the ‘happy slam’.
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Tennis – Australian Open – Women’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 29, 2022. Australia’s Ashleigh Barty poses as she celebrates winning the final against Danielle Collins of the U.S. with the trophy. REUTERS/Loren Elliott TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
In the interview, Barty mentioned that she has been travelling on tour and from a very young age, she felt that her entire identity revolved around being an athlete. But, now she wanted to create a new identity of her own and not be known for her profession alone.
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She also talked about how there was a shift in perspective about her hopes and dreams after winning Wimbledon last year. “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.”
Watch the story: Glorious Moments From Ashleigh Barty’s Illustrious Career
The tennis fraternity will surely be missing not only the great skills of Ashleigh Barty but also the great person that she was on the women’s tour. Here is hoping that she finds success and happiness in whatever she chooses to do next.
