At the end of their resignation message, the number one of the tennis world rankings had to cry. Ashleigh Barty had a good five-minute brave and explained in remarkable words, why she finished her career for the public completely surprisingly a month before her 26th birthday and would like to call “other dreams” in the future. At the end of the conversation with its former double partner Casey Dellacqua thanked the Australian, reminded of the many major moments and suggested a hug – the emotions were then not only in Down Under too big on this special Wednesday for the sport.

Australian Open Final as a last appearance

The 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 2) In the final of the Australian Open on January 29 towards Danielle Collins, it was her last appearance as an active player. For the first time since 1978, Barty had taken care of for a home triumph in Melbourne. Previously she already had Wimbledon (“That was my dream. The a big dream in tennis”) and the French Open won. For 114 weeks, the right-handed in Ipswich has also been at the top of the world ranking \ – only three players had a longer series than you: Steffi Graf (186), Serena Williams (186) and Martina Navratilova (156). Overall, she was the number one in the world 121 weeks, 25 of the past 26 matches won her. Barty is at the height and is still young. Nevertheless, she concludes – because she can not and no longer wants.

I do not have that in me anymore. The physical drive, this emotional desire and everything it takes to make yourself the absolute top. I am consumed.

Ashleigh Barty

“I’m not in me anymore. The physical drive, this emotional desire and everything it takes to put yourself to the absolute top. I’m consumed,” Barty said. “I have given everything and that’s success for me. I am very happy with it. I know that people may not understand that.” That’s okay. “

At the age of 18, she had interrupted her career because of the print and the many travels for almost two years and played a professional cricket in the break. “I know, I’ve done that, but in a very different feeling,” she said now. “I’m so thankful for everything tennis gave me. It has me all my dreams fulfilled, and more. But I know the time is ripe that I’m back and other dreams of dreaming to yage and the rackets.”

WTA boss Steve Simon appreciated Barty as one of the “big champions of the WTA” and wished her all the best. “We will miss you.”

Thank you for inspiring us all to give our best.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, Prime Minister of Queensland

In Australia, the news spread from the end of the career as a driving fire. Media in Down Under languages ​​from a “shocking announcement”. The Prime Minister of Queensland, where Barty was born, congratulated the 25-year-old on Twitter to her “incredible career”. Barty is “a champion on the tennis court and away from it” as well as a great model, emphasized Annastacia Palaszczuk. “Thank you for inspiring us all to give our best.”

In its remarkable justification Barty also explained that after the break, she did not define success on results after the break. “In the second phase of my career, this awareness was that my happiness did not depend on the results. Success for me is that I know, to have given everything,” she said. “It’s important now that I can enjoy this next phase of my life as Ash Barty, man. Not as Ash Barty, the athlete.”