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Australian professional tennis player Destanee Aiava is breaking up with her sport — just in time for Valentine’s Day.
“I want to say a ginormous f*** you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than,” Aiava, 25, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, February 14, announcing her retirement. “F*** you to every single gambler who’s sent me hate or death threats. 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.”
She continued, “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.”
She also compared the sport to a “toxic boyfriend.”
“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 (on paper) I belonged. Other times I kept going because I was too scared to start again,” Aiava wrote. “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.”
The strongly-worded post wasn’t all bashing the sport. Aiava also shared her gratitude and recognized the positive side of her career that coincided with her negative experiences.
“That said, tennis gave me many things I can only be grateful for,” she said. “The places I’ve traveled that people only dream about visiting. Some of my best friends. A platform to share my story. Even the time I had zero dollars because I spent it all trying to ‘make it.’”
Destanee Aiava Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Aiava reached a career-high world ranking at No. 147 in 2017. She has won 10 International Tennis Federation singles titles, most recently at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International in November 2024. She’s also won 14 ITF doubles titles.
In 2016, she won the U18 Australian Championships, earning a spot in the main draw of the 2017 Australian Open and becoming the first player born in 2000 or later to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament.
Aiava — who is of Samoan descent — also paid tribute to the community in her statement.
“I am deeply humbled that I have been able to inspire young boys and girls who look like me, to not be afraid to chase their dreams — no matter what the room looks like. Without you, there wouldn’t be me,” she wrote. “I am proud to have been one of the few you saw on a stage that wasn’t built for us.”
She finished her post by thanking the rest of her community who supported her throughout her career.
“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’ve supported me without trying to change who I am. I look forward to stepping into the next phase of life — one led by purpose, creativity and passion.”
