Career already interrupted
At the age of 18 she had already put her career on hold for almost two years due to the pressure and too much travel and played cricket professionally during the break. “I know I’ve done this before, but with a completely different feeling”she said now. “I am so grateful for everything tennis has given me. It has fulfilled all my dreams and more. But I know the time has come to step back and chase other dreams and put down the racquet.”
In her justification, Barty explained that after the break, she no longer defined success in terms of results. “In the second phase of my career, there was this awareness that my happiness does not depend on results. Success for me is knowing that I gave everything.”she said. “It’s important now that I get to enjoy this next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person. Not Ash Barty the athlete.”
WTA boss and Prime Minister applaud Barty’s achievements
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Barty for her achievements. “It was great talking to you today Ash Barty and just saying, ‘Thank you Ash’, Morrison wrote in a tweet. WTA boss Steve Simon paid tribute to Barty as one of the “great champions of the WTA” and wished her all the best. “We will miss you.”
Source: dpa