Destanee Aiava says 'I've been called a monkey and transgender' amid retirement bombshell

(Getty/Elsa)

Less than a week after announcing her retirement at the end of 2026, Destanee Aiava has delved into further detail about her eye-opening statement, which highlighted a "racist" and "misogynistic" culture.

On Saturday, the 25-year-old issued a post on Instagram, where she didn't mince her words about the way she has been treated as a Samoan-Australian.

"I want to say a ginormous f*** you to everyone in the tennis community who's ever made me feel less than," she wrote. "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. 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 its mould."

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Aiava, who sits 408th in the WTA live rankings, has since expanded on her comments.

"On court I've been called a 'monkey' and 'transgender'," Aiava told CLAY, in an interview also published by RG Media.

"I've gotten comments online from people calling me 'fat', calling me a 'man'. Even seeing gay tennis players and how they're treated, it's such an important thing for me to also advocate for them because I see firsthand how they've been treated in tennis. I really just didn't want to speak for myself. I wanted to speak for everyone else who had or who has had a very similar experience to me."

She later revealed: "They all (female players) just talk behind each other's backs. That's the reason it creates a hostile environment, because everyone just says it behind your back and then gives you a fake smile when you pass each other.

"Personally, I would rather spend all that time with people who matter instead of gallivanting around the world and wasting my time."

Aiava achieved her best run at a Grand Slam main draw at her home in Melbourne by reaching the second round of the main draw, collecting A$200,000 after going through three rounds of qualifying.

However, those special moments did nothing but cover over the cracks.

"I don't think I've ever enjoyed this sport. The only reason I enjoyed it was because of the good things that came with it," the former world No.147 confessed.

"For me personally, that's not worth waking up every day and hating my job and basically living a lie. I'm getting hundreds of people coming up to me saying, 'You must love it.' Some days, honestly, I would have rather done anything else but hit on a tennis court."

Click here to read the full interview.

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