Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has announced that she will retire from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season, at the age of 25. In a candid and strongly worded Instagram post, she cited the sport’s “racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and hostile” culture as a key reason for her decision, describing tennis as a “toxic boyfriend” and directing a “ginormous f*** you” to those in the community who made her feel diminished.
Aiava, who has Samoan heritage, highlighted experiences of being targeted by social media trolls, including comments on her body and career, as well as hate and death threats from gamblers. She criticized the sport for hiding behind “class and gentlemanly values,” white outfits, and traditions while fostering an environment hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mold.
“I’m 25, turning 26 this year and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting from scratch. I’m also scared. But that’s better than living a life that’s misaligned, or being around constant comparison and losing yourself,” she wrote.
Aiava made her WTA Tour debut at the 2017 Brisbane International and won the U18 Girls’ Australian Championships in December 2016. She achieved a career-high singles ranking of 147 and secured 24 ITF Circuit titles in singles and doubles.
In recent years, she reached the second round of the Australian Open women’s singles in 2025 but fell in the first round of qualifying for the 2026 Australian Open to Britain’s Harriet Dart.
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Despite the criticisms, Aiava expressed gratitude for the opportunities tennis provided, such as traveling the world, building friendships, and having a platform to share her story.
Meanwhile, American player Amanda Anisimova reacted to Aiava’s announcement, calling it “heartbreaking” in comments to reporters during the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Anisimova noted she doesn’t know Aiava’s story in detail and wasn’t sure about the specific aspects Aiava referenced (such as social media versus people within tennis), but she expressed sadness over the experience Aiava described and the decision to step away at such a young age.
“Aiava retiring from sport is ‘disheartening’. I hope she will change her mind and return to the game”. It is “heartbreaking” to see Aiava retire at the age of just 25, Amanda Anisimova said.