“I am so grateful for everything this sport has given me and I leave with pride and satisfaction. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I will always be grateful for the lifelong memories we have created together.”
The post featured a video, filmed with retired Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua, in which Barty further explains her decision.
“There was a shift in perspective in me in the second phase of my career, that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results, and success for me is knowing that I gave absolutely everything I can,” she said.
“I know how much work it takes to get the best out of yourself. I’ve said it to my team several times, but I just don’t have that in me anymore. I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional will, or everything necessary is to challenge yourself at the top of the level, and I just know I’m exhausted. I only know physically, I have nothing left to give. That’s success for me.”
She added that she had been thinking about retirement “for a long time” and the decision was cemented after winning Wimbledon last year and this year’s Australian Open. Those wins were “my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been,” she said.
The decision was difficult, but felt good, she said. “Ash Barty, the person, has so many dreams she wants to chase, that doesn’t necessarily mean traveling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, that’s where I’ve always wanted to be.”
“Ashleigh Barty with her signature slice backhand, complemented by being the ultimate competitor, has always led by example through the unwavering professionalism and athleticism she brought to every game,” said WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon in the release.
“With her performances at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals and reaching the highest ranking of No. 1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one of the great champions of the WTA.”
Barty has won three major singles titles: the 2019 French Open, the 2021 Wimbledon Championships and the 2022 Australian Open. In total, she won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, and was the first Australian to win the Australian Open singles title since 1978.
She is only the second reigning world No. 1 in women’s game to retire at the top, after Justine Henin, who retired in 2008.
Barty, who began her professional tennis career in 2010, took a hiatus from the sport from 2014 to 2016, saying “it was too much too soon,” according to the WTA release. She was only 18 at the time and wanted to “experience life as a normal teenage girl,” she said.
She returned to tennis full-time in 2017 — and dominated the sport by winning 25 of her last 26 matches.