The sports world reacted with surprise and respect yesterday as Australian tennis player Ash Barty announced her retirement from the sport at the tender age of 25.
Going out as world number one, with a French Open, Wimbledon and, most recently, Australian Open win under her belt, she has decided that the stress and the constant abuse of her body that top-flight tennis requires is just not worth it to her. Not for her the constant battle against injury and the constant striving for this record and that record shown by many other top tennis players like Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. She leaves at the top of her game, having won 25 of her last 26 games. Yes, she could probably have won more, but elite women's tennis pays pretty well, so I'm sure she won't starve.
Hard work and some innate talent have earned her many accolades, and now that phase of her life is past for her. Now she can kick back and relax with her family, secure in the knowledge that she still counts as one of the greats, however short her career was. Now she can spend more time with her family - yes, I know that's what everyone says when they retire, but in Barty's case it is probably even true. She plans to marry golf professional Garry Kissick, and to "chase other dreams". As she said in an interview yesterday, "I think it's important I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete". Good luck to her, I say.
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