Ashleigh Barty Retirement

Racquets down: Even in retirement, Ashleigh Barty remains an outlier

Barty's retirement is like a perfectly timed backhand drop shot that no one saw coming. Not a hurried or desperate attempt, but well thought out, expertly crafted stroke that ends with a bit of magic.

Ashleigh Barty retires: ‘Dream' Wimbledon title, historic Australian Open victory and other highlights from tennis star’s glittering career

In January, Barty became the first Australian to win her home Grand Slam in 44 years, her third Grand Slam title after the 2019 French Open and 2021 Wimbledon

World No 1 Ashleigh Barty announces shock retirement aged 25, sets sights on chasing 'other dreams'

Barty dropped the bombshell weeks after becoming the first home-grown champion of the Australian Open in 44 years, joining tennis royalty's most exclusive club with a Grand Slam crown on three different surfaces.

‘Happy for Ash Barty, gutted for tennis’: Tennis fraternity reacts to Australian star’s shock retirement at 25

Barty shocked the sporting fraternity in general and the tennis community in particular with her decision to call it quits at the age of 25, at a time when she was on top of the WTA rankings.