""I want to say a ginormous f*** you to everyone in the tennis community who's ever made me feel less than. [...] F*** you to every single gambler who's sent me hate or death threats. 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," she continued. "And f*** you to a sport that hides behind so-called class and gentlemanly values.""
""2026 will be my final year on tour playing professional tennis." She went on to say that "tennis was [her] toxic boyfriend". She thanked tennis for giving many things she has been grateful for, including friends, a platform and the opportunity to travel. But she also called out what the sport took from her, including her "relationship with [her] body, [her] health], [her] family" and her "self-worth"."
Destanee Aiava announced 2026 will be her final year on the professional tennis tour and described tennis as a "toxic boyfriend." Aiava thanked the sport for friends, a platform and travel opportunities while saying it damaged her relationship with her body, her health, her family and her self-worth. She called the sport's internal culture racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who does not fit the mould. Aiava condemned online abuse, gamblers who sent hate and death threats, and social media commentators who nitpick bodies and careers. She said she feels behind peers, is scared, but prefers starting fresh to living misaligned.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]