Australian star Ash Barty has announced her shock retirement from tennis at the age of just 25 years, citing the fulfilment of her tennis goals and fatigue with life on tour.
The reigning world No.1 women's player, Barty has won three Grand Slam titles, most recently the Australian Open in January, and leaves the sport at the peak of her powers.
"Today is difficult and filled with emotion for me, as I announce my retirement from tennis," she 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 has considered retirement "for some time", beginning with her landmark triumph at Wimbledon last year.
Her historic victory on home soil earlier this year - becoming the first local Australian Open women's champion in 44 years - seemed the ideal swansong, Barty adds.
"I've had a lot of incredible moments in my career that have been pivotal moments, and 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.
"To be able to win Wimbledon - my one true dream that I wanted in tennis - that really changed my perspective.
"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 challenge of the Australian Open. That for me just feels like the most perfect way - my perfect way - to celebrate what an amazing journey my tennis career has been."
Barty says the gruelling demands of reaching the summit of world tennis No.1 helped drive her decision and the time was right for her to pursue "other dreams".
"I've given absolutely everything, everything I can," she notes. "I'm fulfilled, I'm happy and I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself.
"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 anymore.
"I think I just know that I'm absolutely spent. I just know, physically, I have nothing more to give.
"I've given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis and I'm really happy with that. For me, that is my success.
"I know that people may not understand it and that's okay. I'm okay with that."
It marks Barty's second "retirement" from the sport, having walked away from the game as a teenager in 2014, after becoming disillusioned by life as a professional.
She retires with 15 titles, having spent a total of 121 weeks atop the world rankings.
