Tennis player claims sport's culture is 'racist' in scathing social media post

Australian women’s tennis subordinate Destanee Aiava announced Saturday that the 2026 play volition beryllium her past successful a scathing connection astir the athletics posted connected her societal media.

Aiava, 25, described tennis arsenic her "toxic boyfriend" successful the connection posted connected Instagram. She lamented being truthful young erstwhile she started, with her breakthrough coming erstwhile she was conscionable 17.

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Destanee Aiava during her lucifer against Danielle Collins astatine the Australian Open astatine Melbourne Park connected Jan. 16, 2025. (Mike Frey/Imagn Images)

She wrote that tennis gave her immoderate of her champion friends and she was capable to question to places she lone dreamed of. But she said the athletics "took things from me," including her narration with her body, her household and her self-worth.

"I privation to accidental a ginormous f--- you to everyone successful the tennis assemblage who’s ever made maine consciousness little than," her connection continued. "F--- you to each azygous gambler who’s sent maine hatred oregon decease threats. F--- you to the radical who beryllium down screens connected societal media, commenting connected my body, my career, oregon immoderate the f--- they privation to nitpick. And f--- you to a athletics that hides down alleged people and gentlemanly values. Behind the achromatic outfits and traditions is simply a civilization that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t acceptable its mould.

Destanee Aiava reacts aft winning a acceptable against Greet Minnen astatine Sobeys Stadium successful Toronto connected Aug. 5, 2024. (Dan Hamilton/USA Today Sports)

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"Life is not meant to beryllium lived successful misery oregon fractional a--ed. My eventual extremity is to beryllium capable to aftermath up mundane and genuinely accidental I emotion what I bash – which I deliberation everyone deserves the accidental at. I’m 25, turning 26 this year, and I consciousness truthful acold down everyone else, similar I’m starting from scratch. I’m besides scared. But that’s amended than surviving a beingness that’s misaligned, oregon being astir changeless examination and losing yourself."

Aiava, then, thanked those who supported her career.

Destanee Aiava serves the shot to Jasmine Paolini during the U.S. Open astatine the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center connected Aug. 24, 2025. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

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She has 10 International Tennis Federation titles connected her resume and is 269-178 successful singles matches. In Grand Slam events, she hasn’t made it further than the 2nd circular – which came during the 2025 Australian Open.

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