Ashleigh Barty gallery: The life, times, highs and lows of tennis’ shock retiree

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Ashleigh Barty has retired from professional tennis at the age of just 25 years old. She is the current world No 1 – and reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.

Ash Barty and Evonne Goolagong Cawley
Barty turned professional in 2010 as a teenager. Evonne Goolagong Cawley has been a longstanding friend and mentor. Goolagong retired from playing tennis in 1983 – 13 years prior to Barty’s birth. Barty and Goolagong Cawley are the only Australian indigenous players to have won the Australian Open women’s singles title.

Barty became a professional in 2010 and has multiple Australian Open winner Evonne Goolagong Cawley as a mentor and friend. They are the only aboriginal Australian women with Australian Open singles titles.

Jim Joyce was Barty’s first tennis coach. “One of the reasons I took her that young, and I didn’t take them that young back in those days, was that her focus and concentration was just incredible. I’ve probably seen kids with better racquet skills than Ash. They just didn’t have the head space Ash does,” Joyce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Barty’s first tennis coach was Jim Joyce, who told the Sydney Morning Herald: “Her focus and concentration was just incredible. I’ve probably seen kids with better racquet skills than Ash. They just didn’t have the head space Ash does.”

Barty took an indefinite break from tennis and became a professional cricketer for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League. She was with the Heat for the inaugural edition of the WBBL during Australia’s domestic cricket season. Her best score was 39 against the Melbourne Stars.

Barty played for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League during a break from professional tennis. Her top score was 39 against the Melbourne Stars. The WBBL is the leading domestic T20 cricket competition for women in Australia.

Barty represented Australia in the Fed Cup. In 2019, the Australians lost the Fed Cup final to France after beating Belarus and the United States of America in the semi-finals and quarter-finals, respectively. Here, France ensured Australia were runners-up with a 3-2 scoreline.

Barty was with the Australian team at the Fed Cup in 2019. They lost the final to France after overcoming Belarus in the semi-finals and the United States of America in the quarter-finals.

Barty also played in the Hopman Cup and partnered fellow Australian Matt Ebden. The mixed doubles pairing were entertaining against France, Germany and Spain at the 2019 tournament. Switzerland eventually beat Germany in the final for a fourth Hopman Cup title.

Barty also partook in the Hopman Cup in 2019. Her partner in the mixed doubles showcase was Matt Ebden. Australia played against Germany, France and Spain. Switzerland were the eventual tournament winners.

Barty won three Grand Slams with titles at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, but the best she could manage at the US Open were fourth-round exits in 2018 and 2019. Her 2019 exit came at the hands of China’s Wang Qiang, who won in straight sets – 6-2, 6-4.

Barty never won the US Open. Her best results at the tournament were fourth-round exits in 2018 and 2019. The latter defeat was to Wang Qiang of China in straight sets.

Barty won the women’s doubles title at the US Open in 2018 with American CoCo Vandeweghe. They required three sets to defeat Tímea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic in the final. Barty and Vandeweghe succeeded Latisha Chan and Martina Hingis as the reigning champions at the time.

American CoCo Vandeweghe was Barty’s partner when they won the US Open women’s doubles title in 2018. They took over from Latisha Chan and Martina Hingis as reigning champions.

Barty’s maiden Grand Slam singles title came in 2019. It was at the French Open in Paris, where she beat Marketa Vondrousova in the final. That year, the French Open men’s singles title was won by Rafael Nadal. He beat Dominic Thiem across four sets in the final.

Barty relished a maiden Grand Slam title in 2019. She beat Marketa Vondrousova in the final. That same year, Rafael Nadal outdid Dominic Thiem in the men’s singles final.

Barty welcomed the 2021 Wimbledon title after beating Karolína Plískova in the final. “It was the most incredible feeling I think I’ve ever experienced on a tennis court,” Barty said after the final. “I think for Australians, there is such a rich history here at Wimbledon. “I feel like Wimbledon is where tennis was born.”

The 2021 Wimbledon women’s singles title went to Barty. Karolina Pliskova finished runner-up. “I think for Australians, there is such a rich history here at Wimbledon. “I feel like Wimbledon is where tennis was born,” said Barty.

Barty represented Australia at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo beat her in the first round of the women’s singles event. “It was a tough day, a disappointing day. I can’t lie about that,” said Barty in defeat. She also played in the Games’ mixed doubles event. John Peers was her team-mate.

Barty played for Australia at the Tokyo Games. She suffered a first round exit to Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round of the women’s singles event. John Peers was Barty’s mixed doubles partner in Tokyo.

This mural of Barty at Melbourne Park epitomised her popularity among fans during the Australian Open in 2022. She ended the country’s 44-year wait for a women’s title winner from Australia. Fellow Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley had won the title in 1977. She had done so in 1974, 1975 and 1976 as well.

A mural of Barty was painted at Melbourne Park for the 2022 Australian Open. She was a fan favourite and went on to win the women’s singles title. There had not been an Australian woman title winner at the Australian Open since 1976.

Barty beat Danielle Collins in the final of the 2022 Australian Open. It was a straight-sets win over the American. The Grand Slam marked the third of her career. She had won Wimbledon in 2021 and the French Open in 2019, too. She was unable to conquer the US Open, instead collecting fourth-round exits in 2018 and 2019.

Barty outplayed Danielle Collins of the United States of America in straight sets to win the 2022 Australian Open. This was her third Grand Slam women’s singles title in three years.

Barty retired from professional at the age of 25 years old in March 2022. She had taken an indefinite break in 2014, but eight years later, the decision was permanent. “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 plus more,” she said.

Barty ended her professional tennis career in March 2022 at the age of 25 years old. She won three Grand Slam women’s singles titles – French Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open – from 2019 to 2022.

Ashleigh Barty

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