Resignation with a smile: Ashleigh Barty shocks the tennis world
Ashleigh Barty (WTA No. 1) surprisingly announced the end of her career . The tennis scene is shocked.
by SID
last edit: Mar 23, 2022, 08:25 am
Ashleigh Barty sat down in front of the camera in a simple, dark blue shirt and had a smile on her face. "There is no right or wrong way. It's just my way," said the 25-year-old tennis world number one before surprisingly announcing the end of her career: "I know in my heart that it's right for me.
The current Wimbledon and Australian Open winner, the former French Open title holder, the dominant player on the tour suddenly leaves the big stage - and the tennis world is shocked. "It's the first time I've said it out loud and yes it's hard to say," the emotional Barty said while speaking to former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua. "But she is "so happy" and "so ready" for the drastic step.
A step that experts and observers did not see coming. The WTA paid homage to its figurehead of many years. "Thank you for being an incredible ambassador for this sport and for women around the world," wrote the players' organization: "We will miss you so much Ash." The Australian newspaper The Age acknowledged that Barty reminded "that grace and modesty need not be brushed aside in the pursuit of excellence."
Ashleigh Barty: "Pursue Other Dreams"
Barty says goodbye at a stage in her career when she would have had the best chance of further great victories. In 2019 she had her first coup in Paris and jumped to the top of the world rankings before she gave up traveling during the peak phase of the corona pandemic. Last year, the athlete from Ipswich/Queensland proved her exceptional status by triumphing in Wimbledon, before she finally rose to become an icon in her home country with her first home win since 1978 in January of this year.
But now it's over for the "grateful" Barty. She was sure "that the time would be right" to resign and "pursue other dreams". Success is knowing "that I gave absolutely everything". She was "fulfilled" and "I know how much work it takes to get the best out of yourself".
She no longer feels this "physical drive, the emotional desire and somehow everything you need to challenge yourself at the highest level". She simply knows that she is "absolutely used up": "I know that physically I had nothing left to give and that's success for me".
Barty leaves elite tennis with a smile - and her sport loses an outstanding athlete and ambassador.