At only 25 years old, Australian tennis player, Ashleigh Barty, announced that she will retire from playing professional tennis. On Instagram, Barty said, “Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis. 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.” Barty has been thinking of retirement for a long time after winning the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament last year.
In Barty’s 11 years of commitment in tennis, she has made 15 career singles titles. Among the 15 career singles titles, she won three Grand Slam tournaments. The three major titles Barty won include the 2019 French Open, the 2021 Wimbledon and the 2022 Australian Open. With a lot of success that Barty has made in a short amount of time, Barty felt that now is the right time to retire because she wants to chase her dreams without having to be away from her family. The Women’s Tennis Association viewed Barty as one of the great champions of their association.
Success didn’t give full satisfaction as Barty had hoped. Winning these tournaments brought Barty to reflect on her life. She felt the things she accomplished in tennis so far has yet to truly fulfill her interests. Rennae Stubbs, an Australian player, coach and ESPN analyst, said, “Ash is not an ego-driven person wanting more. She’s happy and now comfortable and never has to leave her town and family again. And she’s content with her achievements now.”
In 2020, Barty decided to remain home instead of touring for the tournaments. She then left Australia for several months in 2021. Some successes do come with a loss as well. When Barty lost the U.S. Open, Barty returned to Australia early to focus on her well-being. She would be depressed and homesick, but the therapy sessions she has received rekindled her focus on her needs in life. Micky Lawler, the president of the Women’s Tennis Association, added that geography and culture plays a huge factor to Barty’s decision. Had Barty been from the United States or Europe, the circumstances would have been different. Lawler said, “The fact she’s in Australia and loves Australia and loves being home, I think that plays a big role in how she decided this and when she decided this, and that will make a comeback that much harder.”
Barty won’t be expected to return to tennis anytime soon. Possibly at this time, she will explore other sports. Her leave in tennis will definitely sadden her fans, but her personality and successes encourage future tennis players to carry the legacy forward.
