Back to the Tennis Newsfeed

Ashleigh Barty retires: Her time at the top was too short for tennis - but not for her

Ashleigh Barty's ambitions and desires have been well and truly sated. Her time at the top was too short for tennis, but not for the person who matters most.

If winning Wimbledon was the Holy Grail, then enduring fulfilment was secured in January when Barty became the first home winner of an Australian Open singles title for 44 years.

"I [no longer] have the physical drive, the emotional want," the 25 year old has said.

"I just know that I'm absolutely spent."

Perhaps the decision has been accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, with its enforced bubble life and the difficulties of returning home to Australia.