Ashleigh Barty: Simona Halep makes brilliant joke about shock retirement

Simona Halep made a brilliant joke after fellow tennis star Ashleigh Barty announced her retirement from the sport.

Barty shocked the sporting world by announcing she would step back from tennis aged just 25-years-old.

The Australian is a three-time Grand Slam winner, having triumphed at the French Open in 2019, Wimbledon in 2021, and the Australian Open in January.

In a video posted on Barty’s social media channels, she revealed she was “absolutely spent” and “physically I have nothing more to give”.

“I’m so happy and I’m so ready. I just know at the moment in my heart, for me as a person, this is right,” she said. “I know that people may not understand it. I’m OK with that.

“Because I know that Ash Barty the person has so many dreams she wants to chase after that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, from my home, which is where I’ve always wanted to be.”

Halep responded to the announcement with a heartwarming message on Twitter, which included a joke about Barty moving on to become a “Grand Slam champion in golf”.

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

“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”.

Barty and Halep have only played each other four times on the WTA Tour, with the Romanian winning the head-to-head 3-1.

But Halep