World number one Ashleigh Barty has stunned the world of tennis after announcing her retirement from the game at the age of just 25.
The Australian made the shock announcement on social media on Wednesday, saying she was leaving to pursue other life goals: “I’m so happy and I'm so ready,” she said to Casey Dellacqua in an interview. "And I just know at the moment in my heart, for me as a person, this is right.
“I know I’ve done this before but in a very different feeling. I’m so grateful to everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams, plus more, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams and to put the rackets down.”
