Destanee Aiava has won her first title under a new nationality after returning to competition, just months after announcing her retirement at the age of 25. She completed a remarkable turnaround by winning the W15 Brisbane without dropping a set, defeating Australian rival Belle Thompson in the final.
Retirement and criticism of tennis culture
In February, after failing to qualify for the Australian Open singles tournament and losing in the first round of the women's doubles event, Aiava announced she planned to retire at the end of the season. She criticised what she described as a "racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile" culture within the sport.
"I want to say a ginormous f** you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than. F*** you to every single gambler who’s sent me hate or death threats," she said at the time. "F*** you to the people who sit behind screens on social media, commenting on my body, my career, 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 its mould."
Aiava also described tennis as her "toxic boyfriend", saying that behind the sport’s traditional image were experiences that had deeply affected her throughout her career.
Nationality change and emotional win
Aiava previously represented Australia but changed her nationality to New Zealand to honour her father's wishes after he suffered a serious brain injury. She was emotional after winning in Brisbane as she paid tribute to her father. "At first I was texting dad updates hoping he'd be able to look through his phone and catch up on everything he missed," she said. "It is very weird grieving someone who's still alive, and coming to terms with the fact that people can just become memories and you're just supposed to accept it."
