Why has Ashleigh Barty retired? Full statement, tennis star’s net worth, Grand Slams, golf and cricket history

Australian tennis star Ashleigh Barty has announced her retirement from the sport at the age of 25.

The three-time grand slam winner has been a dominant force in the women’s game in recent times, and made history by becoming the first female athlete to win the Australian Open on home soil since 1978 earlier this year.

Citing her reasons for calling time on an illustrious career, Barty suggested that she is satisfied with her achievements out on the court having won both Wimbledon and the aforementioned Australian Open in the past 12 months, and no longer possesses the physical drive or emotional desire to compete at the top level.

Here’s everything you need to know about Barty’s decision to retire...

What has Ashleigh Barty said about her retirement?

Barty shocked the tennis community on Wednesday with a social media video in which she discusses her decision to retire with close friend and former tennis player Casey Dellacqua.

A transcript of the full conversation between the two is as follows:

Dellacqua: Why am I here today?

Barty: I kind of wasn’t quite sure how I was going do this but I think so many times in my life both my professional and my personal, you’ve been there for me and I just couldn’t think, there’s no right way, there’s no wrong way, it’s just my way.

This is perfect for me. To share it with you, to talk to you about it with my team, my loved ones that I’ll be retiring from tennis. And that’s the first time I’ve actually said it out loud and yeah, it’s hard to say, but I’m so happy and I’m so ready, 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. And I’m so grateful to everything that tennis has given me. It’s given me all of my dreams possible, but I know that the time is right now for me to step away and chase other dreams. And yeah, and to put the racquets down.

Dellacqua: Thank you for trusting me again. Yeah, you’re an inspiration to so many and it can’t be easy, but it also must feel nice. To, in a way, get it off your chest. Why now I think is probably going to be the most common question. Why now?

Barty: Yeah, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments. Wimbledon last year changed a lot for me as a person and for me as an athlete when you work so hard your whole life for one goal, and I’ve been able to share that with so many incredible people. But to be able to win Wimbledon, which was my dream, my one true dream that I wanted in tennis, that really changed my perspective and I just had that gut feeling after Wimbledon and had spoken to my team quite a lot about it. There was just a little part of me that wasn’t quite satisfied, wasn’t quite fulfilled.

Then came the challenges of the Australian Open and I think that for me just feels like the most perfect way, my perfect way to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been. As a person this is what I want. This is I want to I want to chase after some other dreams that I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve always had that really healthy balance, but I’m really really excited.

Dellacqua: I think it will be hard for a lot of people to understand because as you said, you’re a three-time grand slam champion. You’ve just come off the AO [Australian Open], you’re probably one of the most marketable athletes in the world. How difficult was it to come to this decision?

Barty: There was a perspective shift in me in this second phase of my career that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results and success for me is knowing that I’ve given absolutely everything I can. I’m fulfilled, I’m happy, and I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself. And I’ve said it to my team, multiple times, it’s just I don’t have that in me anymore.

I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and kind of everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level any more, and I think I just know that I’m absolutely, I am spent. I just know physically I have nothing more to give and that for me is success. I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I’m really happy with that.

And for me that is my success and I know that people may not understand it and that’s okay. I’m okay with that because I know that for me, Ash Barty, the person has so many dreams that she wants to chase after that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, which is where I’ve always wanted to be - it’s where I’ve grown up. I’ll never ever, ever stop loving tennis. It’ll always be a massive part of my life. But now I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete.

Dellacqua: Well I know I speak for so many people Ash. I know your family are going to love having you around more. I’m going to love having you around more with more time with you. But I know I speak for so many people, to say thank you, thank you for everything. Everything you’ve given to our sport.

Having known you for so long, one thing I know is that you make decisions that are right for you. And they’ve always worked out and you’ve done it your way. And I think that’s really brave. I think that’s really credible. And so thank you for everything that you’ve done for our sport. Thank you for giving us you, Ash Barty. Enjoy retirement.

Barty: It’s scary

Dellacqua: You’re amazing. And it must have been so difficult for you to reach this decision and so difficult for you to sit here and actually speak about it and I know you’re going to speak about it more to come, you will. But I’m just so proud of you and I’m so excited as well for what’s next for you as well.

Barty: Yeah, it was hard, but it’s right and I know that brought me a lot of comfort knowing that this is right for me. But I’m very excited.

What is Ashleigh Barty’s net worth?

Barty has amassed quite the fortune during her playing career.

After lifting this year’s Australian Open, the 25-year-old took her net worth to somewhere in the region of £13.75 million (equivalent to roughly AU$24.5 million).

As well as various prize monies, Barty also has has endorsement deals with the likes of Jaguar, Vegemite, Fila, Rado, and Uber Eats, is engaged to golfer Garry Kissick.

According to Forbes Money List, the tennis star was the eighth highest-paid female athlete in the world in 2021.

How many career titles has Ashleigh Barty won?

Barty bows out of the professional game with a glittering title haul to her name.

As well as lifting 15 singles and 12 doubles trophies, she retires as world number one, making her just the second Australian player to reach that ranking with the WTA.

Most notably, the 25-year-old has won three singles grand slam titles, tasting victory at the French Open, Wimbledon, and most recently, the Australian Open - making her the first woman to win the title on home soil since Chris O’Neil in 1978.

While it eluded her as a singles conquest, Barty did also pick up a doubles grand slam win at the US Open in 2018.

Other memorable achievements include a bronze medal in the mixed doubles tournament at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

What is Ashleigh Barty’s history with cricket and golf?

A multi-talented athlete, Barty has also proven her prowess in other sports during her esteemed tennis career.

The Australian’s parents were both successful golfers in their own right, as is her fiance, Garry Kissick. Back in September 2020, she entered and won a championship at the Brookwater Golf Club, with men’s club champion Louis Dobbelaar, claiming that the 25-year-old could make it professionally in golf.

He told AAP: “She’s got all the tools if she wants to pursue it. If she put her mind to it, I’m sure she could.

“I’ve seen quite a lot of golfers come from different sports and she’s the one that stands out the most – by far actually. Her ball-striking’s really good. She just gets that naturally from tennis, the hand-eye stuff.”

Barty has also turned her hand to cricket in the past too.

During a hiatus from tennis between 2014 and 2016, the retiring star played for the Brisbane Heat in the inaugural iteration of the Women’s Big Bash League, despite having no formal training in the sport.

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