Top-ranked Barty retires from tennis at age 25
Three-time Grand Slam singles champion and world No. 1 Ash Barty has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of…
Ash Barty, the No. 1-ranked women’s tennis player in the world, has announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 25.
The reigning Australian Open champion wrote Wednesday in a social media post, “Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis. I wasn’t sure how to share this news with you so I asked my good friend @caseydellacqua to help me.
“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 also posted an accompanying video interview with tennis broadcaster Casey Dellacqua and wrote in her caption, “More to come tomorrow at my press conference.”
The announcement comes less than two months after Barty won her home Australian Open, her third Grand Slam singles title.
The WTA commented on her Instagram post: “Thank you for being an incredible ambassador for this sport and for women around the world. We will miss you so much, Ash.”
Barty ended a 44-year drought for Australian women at the Australian Open when she won the singles title at Melbourne Park in late January. It was her first slam win on hard courts after her victories on grass at Wimbledon (2021) and on clay at the French Open (2019).
Earlier this month, she announced she was pulling out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and the Miami Open, citing a need for ongoing recovery after winning the year’s first major.
“Unfortunately, my body has not recovered the way I’d hoped after the Australian Open and I have not been able to adequately prepare for Indian Wells and Miami,” Barty said on March 3. “I don’t believe I am at the level necessary to win these events and as a result I have decided to withdraw from both tournaments.
“I love these events and am sad not to be there competing but getting my body right must be my focus.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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