World No 1-ranked Ash Barty has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of just 25.

Barty revealed her plans in an Instagram video where she spoke to her friend and former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua.

The Australian, who has won three grand slams and is the reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champion, said she was retiring to “chase other dreams”.

A post shared by Ash Barty (@ashbarty)

She said: “Success for me is knowing I’ve given everything I can – 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 that I don’t have that in me, I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want – everything it takes to challenge yourself at the top level anymore.

“I am spent… physically I had nothing more to give.

“I’ve given absolutely everything I can to this beautiful sport of tennis.”

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It marks Barty’s second “retirement” from the sport -she walked away from the game as a teenager in late-2014, before returning two years later and rising rapidly up the rankings.

Barty said that there had been “a perspective shift in me in the second phase of my career in that my happiness wasn’t dependent on the results”.

She added: “I know people may not understand it and I’m ok with that because for me, Ash Barty the person has so many dreams that she wants to chase after that don’t necessarily involve travelling the world, being away from my family, being away from my home, which is where I’ve always wanted to be, it’s where I’ve grown up.

“I’ll never ever ever stop loving tennis, it’ll always be a massive part of my life, but now I think it’s important that I get to enjoy the next phase of my life as Ash Barty the person, not Ash Barty the athlete.”

WTA boss Steve Simon said: “Ashleigh Barty with her signature slice backhand, complemented by being the ultimate competitor, has always led by example through the unwavering professionalism and sportsmanship she brought to every match.

“With her accomplishments at the Grand Slams, WTA Finals, and reaching the pinnacle ranking of No1 in the world, she has clearly established herself as one the great champions of the WTA.”

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