Exposing Racism in Tennis: Destanee Aiava’s Bold Retirement Statement
Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava shocked the sports world by announcing that the 2026 season will be her final one, delivering the news through an expletive-filled Instagram post that pulls no punches.
In her message, Aiava likened tennis to a “toxic boyfriend,” expressing deep regret over starting her career at a young age and highlighting how the sport has eroded her self-worth, body image, and family relationships.
Oof. It’s gotta be tough when you view the sport that made you a star as simultaneously the worst thing that ever happened to you.
“I want to say a ginormous f— you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than,” her statement reads. “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.”
“And f— you to a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values,” the 25-year-old wrote. “Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mould.”
Hmm … the sport that gave you Arthur Ashe, Serena and Venus Williams, and made stars out of LGBT advocates like Martina Navratilova, is racist, homophobic, and misogynistic. Basically, all of the keywords that less-accomplished athletes and celebrities use when being unable to live up to their own expectations and seeking a scapegoat to make themselves feel better.
This is just silliness.
While acknowledging the positives in professional tennis—such as forming lifelong friendships and traveling to dream destinations—she made it clear that the negatives far outweighed them. Her post signals a dramatic end to her professional career at the ripe old age of 25.
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Aiava emphasized that life shouldn’t be lived in misery, and she’s choosing to step away to pursue genuine happiness, even if it means starting over and facing new fears. if she thinks the tennis world is brutal, wait until she gets out in the real world.
With a career record of 269-178 in singles and 10 International Tennis Federation titles under her belt, Aiava’s deepest Grand Slam run was reaching the second round at the 2025 Australian Open. Second round.
Claiming that tennis is inherently racist and homophobic is nothing more than a woke exaggeration from someone seeking attention. Mission accomplished, Ms. Aiava.