Few were expecting current tennis world number one, Ash Barty, to announce her retirement on Wednesday, just two months after taking out the coveted Australian Open title.
Still just 25, Barty took to social media to make the announcement on Wednesday, which took many in Australia’s sporting circles by surprise.
"Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me as I announce my retirement from tennis," Barty posted on Instagram.
"I am so thankful for everything this sport has given me and leave feeling proud and fulfilled.
"Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way, I'll always be grateful for the lifelong memories that we created together."
Barty first put her career on pause in 2014 at the US Open when she announced she would take sabbatical after her first-round loss at the tournament.
However, few tennis fans ever expected she would pull the plug on her career permanently, particularly during such a window of dominance that hasn’t been seen for an Australian in the code in nearly two decades.
"I will be retiring from tennis. It's the first time I've said it out loud and it's hard to say but I'm so happy and so ready.”
"I just know at the moment in my heart for me as a person this is right.”
"I've done this before but it's a very different feeling.”
"I'm so grateful for everything 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 racquets down."
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