Why did Ashleigh Barty quit tennis and what happens next for the world number one and 25-year-old?

Women's tennis world number one Ashleigh Barty announced today (March 23) that she will be retiring from the game at the tender age of 25. The Australian player made the announcement on a video posted to her Instagram, causing shock waves across the sport.

After an 11-year career, the successful tennis player is taking her racquet off court for good despite being at the top of her game. She makes the shocking move as one of the wealthiest players in the history of the sport.

Having held the number one position for 114 consecutive weeks, Barty is expected to be added to the tennis Hall of Fame. Her amount of consecutive weeks mark is the fourth-best in the history of women's tennis - so, why is she leaving the court?

Barty had her tennis debut at the age of four in Brisbane, Australia. She had a high-flying junior career and went on to win the girls' singles title at Wimbledon in 2011.

As a teen player, Barty also perfected the art of the doubles going on to perform at a high level in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour in 2013. She finished as a runner-up in three Grand Slam doubles at the age of 16, conquering the Australian Open.

Barty's current net worth is reportedly $47 million, which is around £35.5 million. Her net worth comes from earnings on and off court with at least $15 million from sponsorship and endorsement deals, reports say.

Barty said in her social media announcement that now is the right time to move away from a career in tennis and to "chase other dreams". The player reveals that she had a gut feeling after her last Wimbledon of feeling unfulfilled until the clarity came in the Australian Open.

After many pivotal moments in her career, Barty said that there was a shift in her. She