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Australian women’s tennis player Destanee Aiava announced on Saturday that the 2026 season will be her last in a scathing statement about the sport posted on her social media.
Aiava, 25, described tennis as her “toxic boyfriend” in the statement on Instagram. She lamented that she was so young when she started to have a breakthrough at the start of her career when she was only 17.
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Destanee Aiava of Australia during her match against Danielle Collins of the United States in the second round of the women’s singles at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 16, 2025. (Mike Frey/Imagn Images)
She wrote that tennis gave her some of her best friends and she was able to travel to places she only dreamed of. But she said the sport “took things away from me”, including her relationship with her body, her family and her self-esteem.
“I want to say a huge f— you to anyone in the tennis community who has ever made me feel less than,” her statement continued. “F— you to every gambler who has 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 f— they want to fool. And f— you to a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly white values. Misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who does not fit its mold.
Destanee Aiava (AUS) reacts after winning a set against Greet Minnen (BEL, not shown) in the second round qualifier at Sobeys Stadium on August 5, 2024. (Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports)
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“Life is not meant to be lived in misery or half–swear. My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and truly say that I love what I do – which I think everyone deserves the chance to. I’m 25, turning 26 this year, and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting from scratch. But it’s also a life that’s worse than that. or being around constant comparison and losing yourself.”
Aiava therefore thanked those who supported her career.
Destanee Aiava (AUS) serves the ball to Jasmine Paolini (ITA) (not pictured) on day one of the 2025 US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 24, 2025. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
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She has 10 International Tennis Federation titles on her resume and is 269-178 in singles matches at this point. In Grand Slam events, she has not made it further than the second round – which came during the 2025 Australian Open.
