Australian Tennis Star Destanee Aiava Announces Retirement at 25, Condemns Sport's 'Toxic' Culture
Australian tennis professional Destanee Aiava has declared she will retire from the sport at the end of the current season, aged just 25. In a blistering retirement announcement posted on Instagram, Aiava launched a fierce condemnation of what she described as a deeply problematic culture within tennis.
A Scathing Farewell: 'A Ginormous F--- You' to Tennis
In her emotional and raw social media post, Aiava did not hold back. She characterised her relationship with tennis as akin to a "toxic boyfriend" and directed a "ginormous f--- you" to numerous elements within the tennis community she felt had contributed to her negative experience.
"I want to say a ginormous f--- you to everyone in the tennis community who's ever made me feel less than," Aiava wrote. "F--- you to every single gambler who's sent me hate or death threats."
She extended this criticism to online trolls, stating, "F--- you to the people who sit behind screens on social media, commenting on my body, my career, or whatever the fuck they want to nitpick." Aiava saved some of her harshest words for the sport's institutions, accusing tennis of hiding behind a facade of tradition.
Allegations of a 'Racist, Misogynistic, Homophobic' Environment
The core of Aiava's critique focused on systemic issues. She asserted that behind the sport's polished image of "white outfits and traditions" lies a hostile environment.
"Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn't fit the mould," she declared. This powerful statement highlights her perception of tennis as an unwelcoming space for individuals from diverse backgrounds or identities.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Aiava's retirement marks the end of a career that showed significant early promise. As a teenager, she reached a career-high world ranking of 147. More recently, ranked 321, she enjoyed a memorable run at her home Grand Slam in 2025, reaching the second round of the Australian Open. There, she lost a thrilling three-set match to American Danielle Collins, a contest notable for Collins being booed by the crowd for blowing kisses.
Reflecting on her journey, the Melbourne-born former junior prodigy expressed that the sport had exacted a heavy personal toll. "Tennis 'took things from me' including my 'relationship with my body, my health, my family, my self worth'," she revealed, explaining her decision to start afresh in 2027.
Looking Forward: A Quest for Alignment and Happiness
Despite feelings of being behind her peers at age 25, Aiava framed her departure as a necessary step toward personal fulfilment. "Life is not meant to be lived in misery and half assed," she stated.
"My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and genuinely say that I love what I do – which I think everyone deserves a chance at," Aiava continued, acknowledging her fear but prioritising authenticity over a life of "constant comparison and losing yourself."
Her retirement post stands as one of the most candid and critical public exits from a professional sport in recent memory, forcing a conversation about the culture and pressures within elite tennis.
