Australian Destanee Aiava has announced her plans to retire from professional tennis in a scathing and expletive-laden statement on social media.
The 25-year-old blasted a tennis culture she said was “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit in” as she revealed plans to call time on her playing career at the end of 2026.
Aiava questioned whether the sport was worth the sacrifice, adding that “tennis was my toxic boyfriend” in a lengthy and explosive Instagram post.
“Life is not meant to be lived in misery and half-heartedly,” Aiava said in the statement.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and honestly say that I love what I do – and I think everyone deserves a chance to do that.
“I’m 25, turning 26 this year, and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting all over again. I’m scared too. But that’s better than living a life that’s out of sync, or constantly being compared to each other and losing yourself.”
The former junior prodigy saved her most explosive rating for critics and online trolls who have attacked her over the years for her results, looks and the eye-catching outfits she wears.
“I want to say a huge fuck you to anyone in the tennis community who has ever made me feel less than,” she said. “Fuck you to every gambler who sent me hate or death threats.
“Fuck you at the people who sit behind screens on social media and comment on my body, my career or whatever else they want to nitpick. And fuck you with a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values.
“Behind the white outfits and traditions lies a culture that is racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mold.”
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As a child, Aiava was inspired to play tennis while watching Serena Williams at the Australian Open. After bursting onto the scene as a teenager, she climbed to a career-high singles ranking of 147 in 2017 but has failed to consistently reach the same heights and is currently ranked number 321 in the world.
Melbourne-born Aiava reached the second round of the Australian Open for the first time in 2025 but failed to qualify for the women’s singles draw at this year’s home grand slam. She was knocked out along with partner Maddison Inglis in the first round of the women’s doubles at Melbourne Park in January and has not appeared on the court for a competitive match since.
Aiava recalled her “first lesson at Casey Tennis Club” when she retired, before turning the spotlight on a career that seemed promising after reaching the third round of singles at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2017.
“I often wondered what my life would have been like if I had chosen something different and whether everything I sacrificed for this sport was worth the cost,” she said.
“There was a time in my career when I had reached that point just before you get your big break, where the world is your oyster and nothing can touch you.
“I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naive about the consequences of trusting the wrong people. The trajectory of my career has never been the same since.”
Aiava left the door open on what her 2026 tennis season could look like, as well as the next phase of her life afterward, saying it will be “a phase guided by purpose, creativity and passion.”
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