Women’s world number one tennis player Ash Barty announces her retirement from the game

The whole of the tennis world was shocked today when they heard the news that Women’s World Number One tennis player Australian Ash Barty has announced her retirement from the game after winning three major titles in the past three years.

“Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis,” she said on Instagram on Wednesday.

“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.” She added.

She added that she had been thinking about retirement for a long time, and the decision was cemented after winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open this year.

Barty has won three major single titles. The French Open in 2019, 2021 Wimbledon and 2022 Australian Open.

In total, the Australian has won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles on the WTA tour. She also became the first Australian to win the Australian singles title since 1978.

Barty is only the second reigning World Number One in the women’s game to retire at the top. Justine Henin was the other and she retired back in 2008.

The young Aussie who started her professional career in 2010, took a break from the sport from 2014- 2016 stating it was too much to take in for somebody so young, she was only 18 at the time.

We should also remember that she has in the past been suffering from depression and homesickness.

For somebody so young to climb to the top in such a short amount of time is something that the tennis world relished. However, when professional; sportspeople do reach the top at such an early age there will always be added pressure to contend with.

It is the nature of the sport, which is something that experienced sports personnel can normally handle. In the cutthroat business of any sport, there is always the chance that anybody who has reached the top so quickly may not be able to handle the pressure going forward.

However, Ash has also turned her hand to cricket at some point in her life. Could she be swapping her tennis racket for a cricket bat? Only time will tell.

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