‘I Am Spent’: Ash Barty Retires From Tennis As World No. 1, Three-Time Slam Winner
Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 06:36PM By Barry Janoff
March 22, 2022: Calling it a “difficult decision filled with emotion” and stating, “I am spent,” Ashleigh Barty, the No. 1 WTA ranked tennis player in the world, said she is retiring from the sport.
Barty, 25, is a three-time Grand Slam champion who has earned more than $23.8 million during her career.
"Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis," Barty posted to her social media platforms today, which included a six-minute interview with her former doubles partner, Casey Dellacqua.
“It’s the first time I’ve actually said it out loud and, yeah, it’s hard to say. I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more.
“I am spent.”
Barty last played in the 2022 Australian Open defeating Danielle Collins in the final, becoming the first Australian player in 44 years to win the tournament.
That added to Grand Slam wins in 2019 at the Roland-Garros French Open and 2021 at Wimbledon in London.
Since turning pro in 2010, Barty won 15 tour-level titles in singles and 12 in doubles.
She was No. 1 in the world for 121 weeks, including the last 114.
Barty’s marketing deals (some just in Australia) include Marriott Bonvoy, AIA Vitality, UKG, Jaguar, Edgewell Personal Care, Uber Eats, Fila, Head Racquets (pictured above) and Rado.
After turning pro, she left the WTA Tour in 2014 for almost two years in 2014, saying, “It was too much too quickly for me as I've been travelling from quite a young age.”
Barty played pro cricket in Australia before returning to pro tennis.
Photo: WTA“I know I’ve done this before, but in a very different feeling,” Barty said in the video.
“I’m so grateful to everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams, plus more. But I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the rackets down.”
Via the WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said, “With her accomplishments at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals and reaching the pinnacle ranking of No.1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one the great champions of the WTA.
“We wish Ash only the very best and know that she will continue to be a tremendous ambassador for the sport of tennis as she embarks on this new chapter of her life. We will miss her.”
According to Barty, “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.
"That, for me, is success. I've given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis. I’m so happy, and I'm so ready. I just know at the moment, in my heart, for me as a person, this is right."
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