Destanee Aiava announced her retirement from tennis at age 25, saying there was a “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” culture.
The Australian, of Samoan descent, said the sport was like a “toxic boyfriend” – and this would be her last season on tour.
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Aiava, who reached a career-high singles score of 147, released an expletive-laden statement on Instagram to explain her decision.
“My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and honestly say that I love what I do – and I think everyone deserves a chance,” she said.
She also spoke about how she faced abuse from online trolls – an issue that affected several players of the game.
British player Katie Boulter shared some of the abuse she suffered with BBC Sport last year to help highlight the scale of the problem.
Figures from data science company Signify, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) show that in 2024, around 8,000 abusive, violent or threatening messages were sent publicly to 458 tennis players via their social media accounts, many of which originated from betting.
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Aiava cited “hate or death threats” and comments about “my body, my career or whatever they want to nitpick.”
She then criticized “a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values.”
“Behind white outfits and traditions is a culture that is racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who does not fit the mold,” Aiava added.
She also said she was grateful for the opportunity to travel the world and make friends, but admitted: “It also took things away from me. My relationship with my body. My health. My family. My self-esteem.
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“Would I do it again? I really don’t know, but one thing this sport has taught me is that there is always a chance to start again.”
Tennis officials have yet to comment on Aiava’s post.
