Five players whose early retirements shocked tennis

Ashleigh Barty has stunned the tennis world by announcing her retirement, aged just 25.

The Australian was the world number one and reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion but called time on her career.

Here, the PA news agency looks at other leading players who retired at an early age.

The one-time king of Wimbledon, Borg was a global star in the mid-1970s. He won at SW19 five times in a row between 1976 and 1980, while also winning six French Open titles, and his rivalry with John McEnroe is part of tennis folklore. However, in January 1983, aged only 26, the Swede ended his career, citing a frustration with the sport – it had been two years since his last grand slam title. He attempted a comeback in 1991 but was unsuccessful and hung up his racket for good in 1993.

Given what Hingis achieved as a teenager it is perhaps little surprise she burned out quickly and called an initial time on her career at 22. The Swiss star became the youngest grand slam champion in the 20th century when she won the Australian Open in 1997 aged just 16 years and three months, also winning Wimbledon and the US Open that year. However, by 2003 injuries had taken their toll and she retired. She came back two years later but again retired, having been handed a two-year drugs ban. A third comeback happened in 2013 and she enjoyed success in the doubles game before retiring for a final time in 2017.

The Belgian’s retirement was as big a surprise as Barty’s as she was also 25 and ranked number one in the world. Henin had won seven grand slam titles by the time she called time on her career in May 2008, just ahead of the French Open for which she was a big favourite. Despite insisting it was a permanent decision, she returned to the game