Tennis Pro Destanee Aiava Condemns 'toxic' Tennis Culture In Retirement Announcement - Beritaja

Australian tennis subordinate Destanee Aiava announced she would beryllium retiring from master play successful an unfastened missive that condemned what she called the “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” civilization wrong the sport.

The 25-year-old posted connected Instagram Saturday to opportunity that this will beryllium her last twelvemonth connected tour, adding that tennis has go her full life. Aiava said she questioned whether everything she sacrificed was really worthy it.

“There was a clip successful my profession erstwhile I had reached the constituent that comes conscionable earlier you make your large breakthrough, erstwhile the world is astatine your feet and thing could touch you,” she wrote. “I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naive to the consequences of trusting the incorrect people.”

At property 17, Aiava’s world ranking arsenic a singles subordinate was No. 147 and it remained the highest of her career. She is presently classed No. 235, according to her Women’s Tennis Association profile.

Aiava described tennis arsenic her “toxic boyfriend,” penning that she sometimes played conscionable because she felt that she owed it to group aliases because she was excessively frightened to commencement again from scratch. Tennis whitethorn person fixed her friendships and dream experiences, but it besides took things from her, she wrote.

“Behind the achromatic outfits and traditions is simply a civilization that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and dispute to anyone who doesn’t fresh its mould,” Aiava wrote. “Life is not meant to beryllium lived successful misery aliases half assed.”

Aiava acknowledged her Samoan practice successful her missive by thanking the Pacific Islander organization for their support. She added that she was “deeply humbled” by the young girls and boys who person been inspired by her.

“I americium proud to person been 1 of the fewer you saw connected a shape that wasn’t built for us,” Aiava said. “I americium proud to person made history for our people. And I americium proud of wherever I travel from — because of each of you.”

In her letter, Aiava gave a “ginormous f--- you” to the group who made her consciousness “less than.” She besides directed that sentiment to group who person sent her decease threats and those online who made comments connected her assemblage and career.

The remark conception of Aiava’s station was afloat of support, including a fewer bosom emoji from 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens. Stephens, 32, won her eighth singles title successful 2024.

Aiava said she looks guardant to a life led by “purpose, creativity, and passion.”

“I don’t cognize what this twelvemonth will look for illustration aliases wherever tennis fits into it,” Aiava said. “What I do cognize is that this section will extremity connected my terms.”