203 Consecutive Travel Days and 74 COVID Tests Took a Mental Toll on Former WTA No.1 as Dying Ambitions Called for the Inevitable Decision

In the world of tennis, the journey to the top often comes hand in hand with sacrifice and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. However, sometimes, the challenges behind the scenes can be tough and Ashleigh Barty pretty much understood that. The tennis world went into a major shock when Ashleigh Barty, who was in the form of her life, announced her sudden retirement from the sport. From being someone whom the players feared to take on the courts to announcing her retirement, aged just 25, life escalated quickly for her.

However, in a recent revelation, the reason behind her retirement comes into the picture. At a time when COVID was at its peak, the stress from constant travel, numerous tests, and feeling worn out played a big part in her choice. Not only this, it also changed the course of her tennis career in a way that wasn’t expected.

How excessive traveling and numerous COVID tests killed the ambitions of Ashleigh Barty?

Traveling for 203 straight days and undergoing 74 Covid tests drained Ashleigh Barty. This eventually impacted her desire for further success in the game. The relentless schedule left her feeling spent while questioning her motivations for playing. There also came a time in her life when she wasn’t even clear of the aim that she had while stepping into the court.

She expressed thoughts of retirement before the 2022 season, feeling a lack of purpose and likening the athlete’s life to an endless, self-imposed struggle. “I don’t know what I’m playing for anymore – I think I’m done,” said Barty while taking a look at her career.

However, her coaches and managers tried one last time to convince her to step back on the court and try to conquer Australia. Despite being urged to make a final push for the Australian Open, Barty remained resolute about quitting. Her coaches tried to propose a more selective schedule, but Barty had already decided that she was finished with professional tennis.

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Despite having a short-lived career, Ashleigh Barty did manage to stun everyone throughout her time as a professional player. Before retiring at 25, she had won major success in tennis and ended her career on a high.

Ashleigh Barty’s career in numbers: how did she play throughout her career?

Throughout her career as a professional tennis player, Barty was a pure force to be dealt with. Having started her professional journey aged just 17, she became only the second Australian tennis player to secure the first spot in the WTA rankings. She held the spot for a massive 121 weeks. Not only in singles, but she also managed to stun everyone in the doubles as well, managing to secure a career-high ranking of 5.

Throughout her career, she managed to secure 15 titles in singles, which include the 2019 French Open, the Wimbledon in 2021, and the Australian Open in 2o22. In the doubles category, she also managed to win 12 titles, which include a 2018 US Open triumph.

Thus, throughout her career as a professional player, Ashleigh Barty managed to stun everyone and make an impact on the tennis court. However, her journey was short-lived and thus could not garnish further success in the sport.

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