her retirement from the tennis world while she is riding on this high. This is a shocking turn of events for tennis. Barty, only 25 years old, is at the top of her game — she’s less than two months removed from winning her home Australian Open, her third overall Grand Slam singles title — the other two being the 2019 French Open on clay and 2021 Wimbledon on grass.
Barty has held the world No. 1 ranking for 114 consecutive weeks, according to the WTA Tour. The Tennis world is ready to see her leave and they have all expressed how happy they are for as well as how sad they are to see her leave.
“I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level anymore,” Barty said in an Instagram video interview explaining her surprising decision. “I am spent.”
Social media has been blowing up with well wishes and good luck messages as the young star makes decision to take a well-deserved break and maybe then decide what else she wants to conquer.
Barty is only the second woman to retire with the world No. 1 ranking — the other being Justine Henin, who also decided to step back at the age of 25, in 2008.
The news sent shock waves through the sports world, with Barty’s friends and competitors sending her well-wishes despite their disbelief.
