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Destane Aiava describes tennis as her 'toxic boyfriend' in explosive retirement post
Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has taken a passionate swing at the tennis community, gamblers and social media critics as she announced 2026 will be her final year on the professional circuit.
In a nine-slide Instagram post, Aiava described the sport as her "toxic boyfriend" before writing, "I want to say a ginormous f--- you to everyone in the tennis community who's ever made me feel less than".
The 25-year-old is currently ranked 321 in singles and last year reached the second round of the Australian Open in a promising run.
At 16, she made her major debut in the Australian Open, losing in round one. She suffered the same fate the next year.
In her post, Aiava explained she had reached that point before her big breakthrough when she was 17, but had the wrong people around her.
"I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naive to the consequences of trusting the wrong people," she wrote on Instagram.
"The trajectory of my career was never the same after that".
The 25-year-old admitted she continued playing out of a sense of obligation to those who helped her, a fear of starting over, or simply boredom.
She listed she was grateful for the friends and places she visited through the sport, but explained it had taken away her relationship with her body, health, family and self-worth.
Aiava then delivered stinging criticism towards the tennis community and others.
"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 wrote.
"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, who previously beat Aryna Sabalenka in 2019 when she was world No.10, said she was "scared" to start from scratch but looking forward to leaving behind her life in the sport. She also thanked the Pacific Islander community, her loyal fans, sponsors, family, friends, partner and cats.
Aiava has previously called out abuse she's copped on social media, and did so in the lead-up to this year's Australian Open.
At the tournament, she was unable to reach the main draw of the singles and lost in round one of doubles with Maddison Inglis.
'Hostile to anyone': Aussie's nuclear retirement message
'The trajectory of my career was never the same'
www.nine.com.au
