Ash Barty announces retirement from tennis

Australian tennis star Ash Barty has announced her retirement from tennis.

Barty made the announcement via her Instagram account.

«I don't have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level anymore,» she told close friend Casey Dellacqua in an Instagram video.

«I just know I am absolutely spent. I know physically I have nothing more to give and that for me is success. I've given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I'm really happy with that.

»I know that people may not understand it and I'm OK with that.

«I'm so happy, I'm so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person that this is right,» Barty added.

«I've done this before but [this is] a very different feeling. I'm so grateful for everything tennis has given me.

»It's given me all of my dreams and more, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams, and put the racquet down."

Barty finishes her career with three major singles titles — the French Open (2019), Wimbledon (2021) and this year's Australian Open.

«I've had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments, and Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and an athlete,» she said.

«When you work so hard your whole life for one goal … to be able to win Wimbledon, which was the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective.

»I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and there was just a little part of me that wasn't quite satisfied, that wasn't quite fulfilled."

More to come.