Ashleigh Barty retirement reaction: Andy Murray ‘gutted’, Simona Halep jokes about Aussie’s next adventure

Ashleigh Barty stunned the sporting world on Wednesday when she announced her retirement from professional tennis, barely two months after winning the Australian Open.

The 25-year-old not only quits the sport as the reigning Australian Open champion, but she is also the reigning Wimbledon champion while she bows out while being world No 1 in the WTA Rankings.

In fact, it was when she fulfilled a lifelong dream last July when she won Wimbledon when her perspective changed.

“To be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, the one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective. I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and I’d spoken to my team quite a lot about it,” she said.

Naturally Barty’s colleagues have paid tribute to her as she was, after all, considered one of the nicest players on the tennis circuit.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray was “gutted”.

Happy for @ashbarty gutted for tennis what a player

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) March 23, 2022

Former world No 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep joked about Barty’s next adventure.

“Ash, what can I say, you know I have tears right? My friend, I will miss you on tour. You were different, and special, and we shared some amazing moments. What’s next for you? Grand Slam champion in golf?! Be happy and enjoy your life to the max xo Simo,” she wrote.

Ash, what can I say, you know I have tears right? My friend, I will miss you on tour. You were different, and special, and we shared some amazing moments. What’s next for you? Grand Slam champion in golf?! Be happy and enjoy your life to the max xo Simo@ashbarty pic.twitter.com/WbX7kXnJ1l

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) March 23, 2022

Halep’s former coach Darren Cahill also