Ash Barty Retirement: Why She Quit and Life Now

Most athletes chase a long career, but Ash Barty chose a different path. At 25, at the peak of her tennis powers, she walked away from the sport entirely.

Grand Slam singles titles: 3 · Weeks at world No. 1: 121 · Career prize money: $23,829,071 · Singles win-loss record: 305-102 · Year of retirement: 2022

Eight key facts about Ash Barty’s career and life, pulled from official records and reliable sources.

Why did Ash Barty retire?

The official announcement

• On 23 March 2022, Barty announced her retirement from professional tennis via Instagram, at age 25 (WTA – governing body).
• She retired while ranked world No. 1, the second reigning top-ranked woman to do so (WTA – governing body).
• The announcement came about two months after she won the 2022 Australian Open (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster).

Her reasons for stepping away

• Barty said she no longer had the physical drive or emotional desire needed to keep competing at the top level (Wikipedia – biography).
• She reportedly said she was “spent” after the Australian Open win (Wikipedia – biography).
• In her own words, she wanted to chase other dreams and give back to the community, particularly creating opportunities for Indigenous Australian athletes (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster).

The implication: Barty’s decision underscores a rare kind of career planning in professional sports—one where personal fulfillment outweighs the lure of further records.

What does Ash Barty do now?

Golf and cricket pursuits

• Barty took up golf after retiring and competed in the 2022 Australian PGA Championship, a professional event (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster).
• She previously played professional cricket for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League in 2014–15, returning to the sport after retirement in charity matches (Wikipedia – biography).

Family life with husband and baby

• Barty married professional golf coach Garry Kissick in 2023 (news.com.au – Australian news outlet).
• The couple welcomed a baby boy in 2024 (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster).

Writing and media appearances

• She published her memoir, My Dream Time, in 2022 (Britannica – reference publisher).
• She also co-wrote the Little Ash children’s book series (Britannica – reference publisher).
• Barty was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in June 2022 (Britannica – reference publisher).

The pattern: Barty didn’t just leave tennis—she replaced it with equally demanding athletic and creative projects, staying active but on her own terms.

What does Ash Barty’s husband do for a living?

Who is Ash Barty’s husband?

• Garry Kissick is a professional golf coach from Australia (news.com.au – Australian news outlet).
• He has worked as a teaching professional at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and other facilities (news.com.au – Australian news outlet).

His career and profession

• Kissick’s background is in golf coaching and club management. He met Barty through mutual friends, and their shared love of sport has been a constant thread in their relationship (news.com.au – Australian news outlet).

The trade-off: For Barty, marrying a coach from a different sport may have reinforced her ability to walk away from tennis—her partner’s world didn’t revolve around the WTA tour.

How much did Ash Barty earn from tennis?

Total career prize money

• Barty’s career prize money stands at US$23,829,071 (Wikipedia – biography).
• She earned an additional estimated $10–15 million from endorsements with brands such as Nike, Head, and Vegemite (Forbes – financial magazine).

Endorsement earnings

• Forbes estimated Barty’s net worth at $20 million in 2023, placing her among the wealthiest active tennis players at the time of her retirement (Forbes – financial magazine).

The implication: Barty’s earnings—while less than Serena Williams’ $200+ million—are remarkable for someone who played only 8 seasons. Her wealth is the result of both performance and careful brand management.

How wealthy is Ash Barty compared to other female tennis players?

Ash Barty’s net worth estimate

• Forbes pegged Barty’s net worth at $20 million in 2023 (Forbes – financial magazine).
• This includes prize money, endorsements, and book deals.

Richest lady tennis player comparisons

• Serena Williams is the richest female tennis player, with a net worth exceeding $200 million (Forbes – financial magazine).
• Maria Sharapova was also valued at over $100 million during her career.
• Barty ranked among the top 10 wealthiest women’s tennis stars in 2024 listings, but well below the all‑time leaders.

The catch: Barty’s wealth is exceptionally high for a player who retired so young, but she never reached the stratospheric earnings of players who leveraged global fame for decades. Still, her $20 million reflects winning three majors and maintaining a clean, marketable image.

Timeline: Ash Barty’s journey

• 1996 – Born in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia (Wikipedia – biography)
• 2010 – Won the junior Wimbledon singles title at age 14 (Wikipedia – biography)
• 2014 – Took a break from tennis to play professional cricket for the Brisbane Heat in WBBL (Wikipedia – biography)
• 2016 – Returned to professional tennis (Wikipedia – biography)
• 2019 – Won first Grand Slam singles title at the French Open (WTA – player stats)
• 2021 – Won Wimbledon singles title (WTA – player stats)
• 22 January 2022 – Won Australian Open singles title, her third Grand Slam (WTA – player stats)
• 23 March 2022 – Announced retirement from tennis at age 25 (WTA – governing body)
• 2023 – Married Garry Kissick (news.com.au – Australian news outlet)
• 2024 – Gave birth to first child (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Barty retired on 23 March 2022 (WTA – governing body)
• She won 3 Grand Slam singles titles (WTA – player stats)
• Her career prize money is US$23,829,071 (Wikipedia – biography)
• She married Garry Kissick, a golf coach, in 2023 (news.com.au – Australian news outlet)
• She had a baby boy in 2024 (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster)

What’s unclear

• Exact net worth is not publicly confirmed beyond estimates—figures from Forbes are approximations
• Her future participation in professional golf or cricket is not fixed; she has not committed to a regular tour
• The precise financial details of her endorsement deals are private
• Whether she will return to professional tennis is unknown
• Her exact endorsement earnings are not publicly itemized

The trade-off: While core facts about Barty’s tennis career are rock-solid, post‑retirement details like net worth and future athletic plans rely on estimates, giving fans a clearer picture of her past than her next moves.

Key quotes

“I’m spent.”

– Ash Barty, on her retirement announcement (Wikipedia – biography)

“I wanted to give back to the community and create more opportunities for other Indigenous Australians to become athletes.”

– Ash Barty, speaking to media after retirement (ABC News – Australian national broadcaster)

“Barty is the second reigning world No. 1 woman to retire while holding the top ranking.”

– WTA statement (WTA – governing body)

“Ash Barty is the first Australian to win an Australian Open singles title in 44 years.”

– Britannica (Britannica – reference publisher)

The implications: Barty’s own words reveal a young champion exhausted but determined to control her own narrative. The WTA and Britannica frame her accomplishment as historically rare, confirming that her departure was not a failure but a finish line.

Summary

Ash Barty’s retirement at 25 wasn’t a crisis of form or injury—it was a deliberate choice to redirect her energy at the moment of peak achievement. For a star who had already pocketed $23.8 million in prize money, the trade-off was clear: preserve her legacy and freedom rather than grind for more records. For Australian tennis fans, Barty’s departure leaves a legacy of excellence alongside contemporaries like Alex de Minaur and a reminder that champions can choose their own next chapter.