Destanee Aiava will retire from tennis later this year at the age of 26 and has slammed those in the community who have ‘made her feel less.’
The Australian issued an unexpected statement on social media in which she said this season will be her last on the Tour. Aiava has been ranked as high as 147th in the world but is currently outside the top 300. She has won 10 titles on the ITF circuit between and has played in eight Grand Slam main draws, winning just one match. One of her most high-profile wins was over Aryna Sabalenka at the 2019 Rosmalen Open.
More recently, Aiava has experienced a disappointing start to the year, losing in the first round of a WTA 125 event in Canberra and then in the first round of qualifying at the Australian Open. Shortly after her latest loss, she hit out at the social media abuse she received, describing it as “twisted”, “disgusting” and “disrespectful”.
“2026 will be my final year on tour playing professional tennis,” Aiava wrote in an Instagram post on Saturday.
“From the moment I had my first lesson at Casey Tennis Club, my entire life was tennis. I often wondered what my life would have looked like if I’d chosen anything else and whether everything I sacrificed for this sport was actually worth the cost.
“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 tough you.
“I was only 17, unprepared and dangerously naive to the consequences of trusting the wrong people.
“The trajectory of my career was never the same after that.”
Elaborating further, she described tennis as her ‘toxic boyfriend’ and used explicit language to hit out at those who have criticised her.
“I want to say a ginormous f*** you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than,” she continued.
“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.
“Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that’s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mould.
“Life is not meant to be lived in misery or half assed.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up everyday and genuinely say I love what I do – which I think everyone deserves the chance at.
“I’m 25, turning 26 this year and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I’m starting from scratch. I’m also scared. But that’s better than living a life that’s misaligned, or being around constant comparison and losing yourself.”
Throughout her career, Aiava has also struggled with mental health issues. In 2022, she tried to take her own life and later that same year suffered from panic attacks. In an interview with The Age newspaper, she confirmed she has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which is a condition that affects a person’s ability to control their emotions. Aiava said the diagnosis is linked to ‘childhood trauma.’
On the WTA Tour, Aiava has won one title, which was in doubles at a 125 event in Birmingham last year.
