Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava announced she would be retiring from professional play in an open letter that condemned what she called the “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” culture within the sport.
The 25-year-old posted on Instagram Saturday to say that this will be her final year on tour, adding that tennis has become her entire life. Aiava said she questioned whether everything she sacrificed was actually worth it.
“There was a time in my career when I had reached the point that comes just before you make your big breakthrough, when the world is at your feet and nothing can touch you,” she wrote. “I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naive to the consequences of trusting the wrong people.”
At age 17, Aiava’s world ranking as a singles player was No. 147 and it remained the peak of her career. She is currently ranked No. 235, according to her Women’s Tennis Association profile.
Aiava described tennis as her “toxic boyfriend,” writing that she sometimes played just because she felt that she owed it to people or because she was too scared to start again from scratch. Tennis may have given her friendships and dream experiences, but it also took things from her, she 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,” Aiava wrote. “Life is not meant to be lived in misery or half assed.”
Aiava acknowledged her Samoan heritage in her letter by thanking the Pacific Islander community for their support. She added that she was “deeply humbled” by the young girls and boys who have been inspired by her.
“I am proud to have been one of the few you saw on a stage that wasn’t built for us,” Aiava said. “I am proud to have made history for our people. And I am proud of where I come from — because of all of you.”
In her letter, Aiava gave a “ginormous f— you” to the people who made her feel “less than.” She also directed that sentiment to people who have sent her death threats and those online who made comments on her body and career.
The comment section of Aiava’s post was full of support, including a few heart emoji from 2017 U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens. Stephens, 32, won her eighth singles title in 2024.
Aiava said she looks forward to a life led by “purpose, creativity, and passion.”
“I don’t know what this year will look like or where tennis fits into it,” Aiava said. “What I do know is that this chapter will end on my terms.”