Ashley Barty decided to redefine the term "retire at the peak."
Today (Wednesday), at the age of 25, two months after winning the Australian Championship, with her annual balance standing at 0:11 and ranked first in the world, the Australian tennis player stunned the world when she announced her retirement.
"I am exhausted, and I have nothing more to give physically," Barty said in a post posted on social media, "I am very happy and very ready. I know from the bottom of my heart that for me, as a human being, I am making the right decision."
Barty's post caught the sports world by surprise on the one hand, but also with some understanding on the other.
In 2014, when she was still in her infancy, the Australian had already taken one break from tennis.
She claims she suffered from anxiety and longing for home and said: "Everything happens too fast and too soon. I travel a lot from a young age, and I want to live a normal girl's life and have normal experiences."
Not for the first time
Barty abandoned tennis in favor of a short cricket career, but even when she returned two years later, the impression remained that her tennis career would not be particularly long.
Ashley Barty winning Australia, Photo: EPA
All along Barty gave the feeling that sport does not define her, but is him.
Already eight years ago she had no problem moving aside when it was uncomfortable, and lo and behold - yesterday she did it again.
The timing is the real astonishment.
When she won the Australian Championship in January - the first local tennis player to do so in 44 years - the question was how many Grand Slam titles she would add to the three in her closet.
She was at her peak.
Ranked first since the Roland Garros in 2019 - 114 weeks in a row, the fourth most consecutive in history after Steffi Graf, Serena Williams (both 186) and Martina Navratilova (156).
Between ambition and proportion
After lifting her title in Melbourne about two months ago, she said: "I'm excited for the next episode and what awaits me later, but it's just as important to stop for a moment, relax and have a beer."
In this sentence probably lies Barti's special combination - ambition and proportion.
She is ambitious and competitive, but also realistic and well aware of her desires.
Her dream was to win Wimbledon, and after achieving that last year - she did not insist on finding a new dream.
"I am grateful for all that this sport has given me, and I leave with a sense of pride and self-fulfillment," she wrote.
"I also know how much work it takes to get yourself to the maximum, and I have no more strength for that."
The reactions in the round consist of surprise, admiration and understanding.
"Tennis will never be the same without you," Petra Kabitova wrote.
"You're an amazing actress, but more importantly - one of the nicest in the round," Madison Keys added.
"You are different and special," said Simona Halp, wondering with humor: "What now? Will you be a golf champion?".
Many wonder what Barty will do and if there is a chance she will return, but as she explained, this is the first time she has said "retirement" out loud - because she really means it this time.
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