World number one Ashleigh Barty announced her shock retirement from tennis at the age of just 25 on Wednesday, with the Australian stating that she wanted to "chase other dreams".
Although Barty has now stepped away from tennis for good, it is not the first time she has felt the need to take a break from the sport. Back in 2014, a teenage Barty announced she was taking a break from tennis having begun her professional career at the age of just 14.
During her time away from tennis, Barty began playing cricket after sharing a dinner with the Australian women's team ahead of the 2015 Ashes. The idea of competing in a team sport and spending less time away from home appealed to Barty and she ended up representing Queensland and Brisbane Heat in the inaugural edition of the Women's Big Bash League.
