Ash Barty’s greatest hits: the moments that defined retired tennis star’s career

Wednesday’s bombshell was not the first time Barty has called time on her tennis career – she did likewise after the US Open in 2014, saying the rigours of the professional tourmeantshe had missed out on the kind of life a normal teenager enjoys.

So Barty went and did what any normal teenager would do – play professional cricket. But after just one impressive season with the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL, Barty decided to return to tennis in 2016, even though at the time she wasn’t sure if her decision would pay off.

“I was very young, but I turn 20 this year and it’s a different perspective on life and tennis in general,” she told the WTA website at the time. “If it works, great. If it doesn’t, I can’t really complain. I’ve had a phenomenal career for the short time that I did play.”

It did work out for Barty, who returned to the court under the tutelage of coach Craig Tyzzer, initially in doubles before embarking on what would be a remarkable rise up the singles rankings.

By the end of 2017, she was ranked inside the Top 20 and a year later the Top 15. WTA titles were pocketed but her major breakthrough came at Roland Garros in June 2019 when she claimed the first of what would be her three grand slam titles, following in the footsteps of compatriot Margaret Court 46 years previously and becoming the first Australian to win a grand slam singles title since Sam Stosur at the 2014 US Open.

Another Australian, Pat Cash, summed up Barty’s meteoric rise after her 6-1, 6-3 win over Czech teenager Markéta Vondroušová in the French Open final. “Where she has come in the last year is just incredible. She was a decent player and a very good doubles player – and the next thing you know, she’s a grand slam champion.”

As the freshly