Barty’s Tennis Career Overview
Ashleigh Barty is an Australian professional tennis player and is currently the world number one in the singles rankings. She is the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976 to hold the top ranking in singles. Barty is a former Wimbledon Girls’ Singles champion and a French Open champion in both singles and doubles.
Barty began her professional career in 2013, at the age of 15. She then took a break from professional tennis in 2014 to focus on a different sport, cricket.
Return to Tennis
In 2016, Barty made her return to professional tennis. She won her first singles title in 2017 at the Malaysian Open and followed that up with two WTA doubles titles later that year.
In 2018, Barty won the Nottingham Open and reached the semifinals of the French Open. She then broke into the top 10 of the WTA singles rankings for the first time.
Breakthrough Year in 2019
2019 was a breakthrough year for Barty. She won her first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. She also won a total of five WTA titles during the year and was named the WTA Player of the Year.
Barty finished the year as the world number one. She was the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976 to hold the top ranking in singles.
2020: Rare Double
Barty’s success continued in 2020. She became the first Australian woman since Goolagong Cawley in 1980 to win the Australian Open singles championship. She also won the doubles championship with Victoria Azarenka, becoming the first Australian woman to win a double title since Goolagong Cawley in 1971.
Awards and Honors
Barty has won numerous awards and honors during her career. She was named the WTA Player of the Year in 2019 and was also named the ITF World Champion in both singles and doubles.
In 2020, she was named Australian of the Year, becoming the first tennis player to receive the honor.
When Did Barty Retire from Tennis?
Barty announced her retirement from professional tennis on February 21, 2021, citing physical and mental exhaustion. She had been struggling with fatigue, illness, and injury throughout the 2020 season.
Barty’s decision to retire was met with shock and disappointment from the tennis world, as she had been widely considered one of the best players in the world.
Reactions to Retirement
The tennis world reacted with shock and sadness to Barty’s retirement announcement. Many of her peers and rivals paid tribute to her on social media, expressing their admiration for her talent, sportsmanship, and grace.
Tennis Australia also released a statement, praising Barty for her achievements and expressing disappointment at her retirement.
Barty’s Legacy
Despite her short career, Barty has left a lasting legacy in the tennis world. She is the first Australian woman in 44 years to hold the top ranking in singles and the first Australian woman in 40 years to win a double title at a Grand Slam event.
She is also the first tennis player to be named Australian of the Year and her success on the court has inspired many young players to pursue their dreams.
What’s Next for Barty?
Barty has said that she plans to take some time off to rest and recover before deciding on her next steps. She has indicated that she may pursue a career in coaching or become involved in some other aspect of the game.
Conclusion
Ashleigh Barty is one of the most successful tennis players of all time. Her retirement from the game on February 21, 2021 was met with shock and sadness from the tennis world. However, her legacy will live on and she will be remembered as an inspiration to many young players.