Women's world No 1 Ashleigh Barty shocked the tennis world on Wednesday after announcing her decision to retire, just weeks after her historic triumph at the Australian Open.
Barty walks away from the sport at the age of 25 and said she was "thankful for everything this sport has given me. I'm so happy, and I'm so ready and I just know at the moment in my heart as a person, this is right. I'm so grateful for everything that tennis has given me, it's given me all of my dreams plus more.
"But I know the time is now right for me to step away and chase other dreams and put the racquets down."
Barty spent 119 weeks as the world No 1 and won three Grand Slam titles. Her triumph at Melbourne Park last month - which made her the first Australian in 44 years to win the tournament - followed victories at the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021. In all, Barty won 15 singles titles and 12 doubles titles.
As Barty enters retirement, check out the gallery above to see other players who left the game early, whether through choice or injury-enforced. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.
