Australian player Destanee Aiava announced on Sunday her impending retirement from tennis and claimed the sport had a \u201cracist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile\u201d culture.<\/p>\n
In an expletive-laden statement on social media, a disillusioned Aiava described tennis as her \u201ctoxic boyfriend\u201d and said she was looking forward to a fresh start.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy life is not meant to be lived in misery and half-assed,\u201d wrote Aiava, who said 2026 would be her last year on tour. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy ultimate goal is to be able to wake up every day and genuinely say that I love what I do -\u2013 which I think everyone deserves a chance at.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 25, turning 26 this year and I feel so far behind everyone else, like I\u2019m starting from scratch.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m also scared. But that\u2019s better than living a life that\u2019s misaligned, or being around constant comparison and losing yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aiava, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 133 and last played doubles at the Australian Open in January, has often been the target for online trolls.<\/p>\n
She used her retirement post to hit back at those that \u201cmade me feel less than\u201d, lashing out at the \u201chate or death threats\u201d and commentary on \u201cmy body, my career, or whatever they want to nitpick\u201d.<\/p>\n
Using an expletive, she hit out at \u201ca sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values.<\/p>\n
\u201cBehind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that\u2019s racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn\u2019t fit the mould,\u201d added Aiava, who has Samoan heritage.<\/p>\n
Tennis officials were not immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n
A former junior prodigy, Aiava said she was grateful for the opportunity to travel the world and makes friends, but it came at a price.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt also took things from me. My relationship with my body. My health. My family. My self-worth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWould I do it all again? I really don\u2019t know, but one thing this sport taught me is that there is always a chance to start fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n
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