Raducanu shares sweet Ash Barty gesture as world No 1 announces shock retirement | Tennis | Sport
Emma Raducanu has shared one of her memories with Ash Barty after the Australian surprised the sporting world by announcing her retirement from tennis. Barty is the current world No 1 and reigning champion of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open, but admitted she had nothing left to give after achieving her biggest dreams in the sport.
Barty announced she was retiring with immediate effect on Wednesday, in a video interview with long-time friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua. The world No 1 had started the year ith a perfect 11-0 record, winning the Adelaide WTA 500 and the Australian Open, ending a 44-year wait for an Aussie women’s singles champion.
She had already confirmed she would be temporarily taking some time away after withdrawing from Indian Wells and Miami but as the Miami Open got underway, Barty instead announced she would be stepping away from tennis entirely. The 25-year-old was arguably in the prime of her career and was the two-time defending champion at this week’s event but admitted she was “spent” and looking forward to the next chapter of her life.
“I know how much work it takes to bring the best out of yourself. I’ve said it to my team multiple times – `I just don’t have that in me anymore.’ Physically, I have nothing more to give. I’ve given absolutely everything I have to this beautiful sport of tennis, and I’m really happy with that,” she explained in her announcement video.
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