Destanee Aiava, an Australian prodigy who reached a career-high ranking of 147, has announced that she’ll retire by the end of the season in a long Instagram post that called out what she perceives to be the hypocrisy of the sport.
“I want to say a ginormous fuck you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than,” she wrote. “F*** you to every single gambler who sent me hate or death threats. F*** you to the people who sit behind screens on social media, commenting on my body, my care, or whatever the f*** they want to nitpick. And f*** you to a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values. Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit it’s mould.”
Born in Melbourne and of Samoan heritage, Aiava possessed incredible talent that became the youngest player of Pacific Island heritage to compete in a Grand Slam when she was 16 at the 2017 Australian Open. She won 14 ITF titles and won her first main draw match at a major at the 2025 Australian Open.
She wrote about her teen years in her post as well, saying that tennis became her “toxic boyfriend” when recounting the moment in her career when she was considered to be Australia’s next big thing.
“I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naïve to the consequences of trusting the wrong people,” she wrote. “The trajectory of my career was never the same after that. Sometimes I kept playing because I felt like I owed it to not only myself, but to everyone who had helped me throughout my career, to try and get back to where I belonged.
“Other times I kept going because I was too scared to start again. Or I was bored. I also didn’t know who I was outside of Tennis and what my true passion was. I was constantly looking for that thing that gave me peace instead of grief. In other words, Tennis was my toxic boyfriend.”
She had many people to thank in Instagram post as well.
“Thank you to everyone who’s been a loyal fan of mine, my sponsors, my family, my best friends, my partner, my cats and anyone who’s been a positive part of this 21 year Journey,” she wrote. “I don’t know what this year will look like or where Tennis fits into it. What I do know is that this chapter will end on my terms. And I’m truly grateful for the people who have supported me without trying to change who I am. I look forward to stepping into my next phase of life — one led by purpose, creativity, and passion.”