"I couldn't stop crying": Iga Swiatek was left 'confused' and 'shocked' by sudden retirement of Ashleigh Barty at age 25
WTA
Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek revealed that she cried after
the news of the retirement of the former world number one Ash Barty.
The Australian tennis star announced a surprising retirement
earlier in 2023 despite ageing just 26. Swiatek, who is the current world
number one in the women’s singles category, talked about how she felt after
hearing the news.
“I was sobbing. I couldn’t stop crying,” she said while
expressing her feelings after hearing the news of Barty’s retirement. “It might
sound strange, but I was so confused and shocked that Ash was 25, and she was
retiring.
“There was some confusion about what was going to happen
because I had only been world No 2 for three days. I always had this image in
my mind that you retire when you’re 32, and your body can’t cope anymore. I
also felt like Ash has the best tennis out there, hands down. I couldn’t wrap
my head around it. I didn’t know if she was unhappy or something.”
Barty finished her career after winning three major titles.
Her maiden title was the French Open in 2019 when she defeated Czech Republic’s
Marketa Vondrousova in the final with a score of 6-1, 6-3.
In 2021, the Queenland-born clinched the Wimbledon title after
beating Karolina Pliskova in the final with a score of 6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3. In
2022, Barty defeated America’s Danielle Collins in the final with a score of
6-3, 7-6 to win the Australian Open.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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