Serena Williams has reacted to Ashleigh Barty’s sudden retirement.© AFP
Ashleigh Barty sent shockwaves through the tennis world when she announced her sudden retirement at the age of 25. The tennis star made her decision known just weeks after winning the Australian Open this year. The Australian has gained a large following over the years for her calm and collected approach to the tennis court. So her sudden retirement came as a shock to 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.
Serena wrote on Twitter: “@ashbarty I can’t lie, I was sad to read your decision but also happy with your new chapter. Always your fan near and far. I send all my love.”
@ashbarty I can’t lie that I was sad to read your decision, but also happy about your new chapter. Always your fan near and far. I send all my love
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 23, 2022
In a video posted to her Instagram account on Wednesday, Barty said she was grateful for everything tennis gave her and called the time “right” to retire.
“Today it’s hard and full of emotion for me when I announce that I’m going to retire from tennis. I’m so happy, and I’m so ready and I just know right now in my heart as a person, this is right. I'” I am so grateful for everything tennis has given me, it has given me all my dreams and more. But I know the time is now right for me to step back and pursue other dreams and put down the rackets,” she said in the video.
In her career, Barty won three Grand Slam titles: the French Open in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021 and the Australian Open in 2022.
promoted
Barty is also known for her cricketing skills and she showed the world what she’s made of in the Women’s Big Bash League while playing for the Brisbane Heat.
She said on Thursday that she will remove herself from the WTA rankings after announcing her retirement, and this has paved the way for Poland’s Iga Swiatek to become world number one, provided she wins the Miami Open.
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