World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty announces she's retiring from professional tennis

By Jessie Yeung and Jill Martin, CNN

Updated 0753 GMT (1553 HKT) March 23, 2022

Australia's Ashleigh Barty on January 30 after winning the Australian Open women's singles.

(CNN)World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has shocked the tennis world by announcing her retirement from the sport after winning three major singles titles in the last three years.

«Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis,» the 25-year-old Australian said in the caption of anInstagram post Wednesday. «I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I'll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together.»The post included a video, filmed with retired Australian tennis player Casey Dellacqua, in which Barty further explains her decision.«There was a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career, that my happiness wasn't dependent on the results, and success for me is knowing I've given absolutely everything I can,» she said. Read More«I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself. I've said it to my team multiple times, it's just I don't have that in me anymore. I don't have the physical drive, the emotional want, and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level anymore, and I just know that I am spent. I just know physically, I have nothing more to give. That, for me, is success.»She added that she had been thinking about retirement for «a long time,» and the decision was cemented after winning Wimbledon last year and the Australian Open this year. Those victories were «my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career