Ashleigh Barty has three Grand Slam titles to her credit, when she dominated the French Open in 2021, last year she found no conquerors at Wimbledon, where she beat Karolina Plíšková in the final, she most recently dominated the last four of this year’s Australian Open, which she won without dropping a set.

“Today is a very emotional day for me. I am ending my career. I am very grateful to tennis for everything it has given me. I am proud of everything I have achieved. I want to thank everyone who supported me in my journey. I will forever remember everything we have accomplished together,” Bartyová wrote on social networks.

“I’ve lacked the motivation and desire necessary to stay on top of the absolute top,” explained the Australian, who, in addition to three Grand Slam titles, has won a further 12 tournaments in singles and the same number in doubles.

The Ipswich, Australia native bid farewell to his career with an astounding singles record of 305 wins and just 102 losses. He earned nearly $24 million in awards alone.

She has held the world number one position for a continuous 114 weeks, only the legendary Steffi Graf and Serena Williams (both 186 weeks) and Martina Navrátilová (156 weeks) have done better in tennis history.

“I know how difficult it is to get the best out of yourself and keep up your form. I spoke about it with my team several times. And I don’t want to continue like this. Physically, I have nothing more to offer. I give tennis everything “It’s a beautiful sport and I love being a part of it,” added the champion.

Bartyová is taking a second break from tennis, the first time she left the WTA circuit in 2014, partly because she was troubled by depression after turning pro.

“I’ve done it once before, but it’s something else,” added Barty, who has never hidden from the fact that the demands of life on the WTA circuit are not for her. This is also why, after the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, he took almost a year off, which he spent with his family.

“I have many dreams and goals, but that of course does not include traveling the world and being away from my family and home for long periods of time, which is where I always want to be,” Bartyová says in the video.

“I will always love tennis, it’s been a big part of my life, but I think it’s time to enjoy what Ash Barty loves as a person and not Ash Barty as an athlete,” he added.

Barty is only the second player to decide to end his career at the top of the world rankings. Only Belgian Justine Heninová, who also finished in 2008 at the age of 25, has done so before her.

Two years later, the seven-time Grand Slam winner returned to tennis, and Henin finally retired in 2011. After returning, she won two titles and also played in the final of the Australian Open.