TENNIS PLAYERS (Off-Court Shenanigans)

[ti-amie]

[ti-amie]

[mmmm8]

That's quite a tub of caviar (googled and this is served on Emirates). Apparently it's unlimited:

https://www.smh.com.au/business/compani ... 5mppn.html

[Owendonovan]

Destanee Aiava says ‘f— you’ to tennis culture as she announces retirement at 25..

Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has announced her retirement, labeling the sport’s culture as “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit the mould,” in a statement posted on social media.

Aiava, 25, who reached a career-high world No. 147 in 2017, made the announcement that the coming year would be her last on tour in an explosive Instagram post Saturday. In the post, she said tennis was like a “toxic boyfriend” and offered a “ginormous f— you” to the sport’s community.

“I want to say a ginormous f— you to everyone in the tennis community who’s ever made me feel less than,” Aiava wrote.

“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.”

Aiava, who has won 10 ITF singles titles in her career, with the most recent coming at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International in November 2024, also paid tribute to the Pacific Islander community.

“I am deeply humbled that I have been able to inspire young boys and girls who look like me, to not be afraid to chase their dreams — no matter what the room looks like. Without you, there wouldn’t be me.

“I am proud to have been one of the few you saw on a stage that wasn’t built for us.”

“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,” Aiava continued.

Aiava reached the second round of her home Grand Slam in 2025, losing to Danielle Collins of the U.S. in an enthralling match and drawing attention to her rotation of iconic Grand Slam outfits from old tournaments. Aiava also represented Australia at that year’s United Cup, calling her experience on the team “weird and hostile” in a vlog.

Aiava made seven main-draw singles appearances in all, winning one of them. She did not make the main draw at this year’s Australian Open, but she did feature alongside fellow Australian Maddison Inglis in the doubles competition, falling to Indonesia’s Aldila Sutjiadi and Giuliana Olmos of Mexico in the first round in straight sets.

At the end of her time at the tournament, Aiava wrote on Instagram: “I could sit here and write a positive caption about this week, but I’d rather not participate in the fakery that social media is.

“The only way I can sum it up is disappointment. 2 decades and a few dusty plates. All just feels like a waste of time.

“This feeling will pass in time but f— rn it feels like a deep dark hole I can’t get out of, maybe that’s what sport does to you.”

At the end of her retirement statement, she thanked those who had supported her.

“Thank you to everyone who’s been a loyal fan of mine, my sponsors, my family, my best friends, my partner, my cats and anyone who’s been a positive part of this 21 year journey.

“I don’t know what this year will look like or where tennis fits into it. What I do know is that this chapter will end on my terms. And I’m truly grateful for the people who’ve supported me without trying to change who I am. I look forward to stepping into my next phase of life — one led by purpose, creativity and passion. Goodbye, Destanee.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/704633 ... instagram/

[Suliso]

She certainly won't be missed. Wasn't it the her who disclosed few years ago that she hates tennis and is it only for money?

[ponchi101]

Racist. To the sport where Lori Mcneill, Zina Garrison, Chanda Rubin, the Williams sisters, Osaka, Coco and now Mboko were and are regular favorites. (I know it was never idyllic, but that was societal, not tennis specific).
Misogynistic. To the sport that regularly has 7 to 8 of the top 10 best paid athletes in women's sports. And agreed on same pay at all slams. I know, it is not perfect, it took a while, but she did not live through that.
Homophobic. To the sport where Martina, Mauresmo and others competed as openly gay players, to the extent that Kasatkina's coming out generated NO COMMENTS at this forum, so used to it we are (I know, we are not usual in our liberal-minded-ness). I know, not perfect on many issues, but that is global, not sport specific.

So, wow. A very nasty letter. I wonder what kind of reply could tennis give her, if tennis had the chance to reply as a single entity.
And. I have spent 5 decades playing this sport. Never made a cent, never won anything, never even reached a great level of proficiency. And yet, the thousands of hours of enjoyment it has given me.
So, I guess: FY too, Destanee. Don't let the latch on the chain link fence lodge up your ass.

[skatingfan]

Based on her statement I think it's the social media pressure coming from gamblers that is the cause of much of this, and what I'm not clear about is what level of support the athletes, particularly in the WTA, get from the organizations that run the sport. Because the athletes are not employed by these organizations I think they don't get the sort of protection they would otherwise, and compared to team sports tennis players need to be out on social media to engage fans, and attract sponsors.

[ti-amie]

She's admitted to having mental health issues centered around playing tennis and being the sole support of her family. Her issues are complicated and maybe officially retiring is one way for her to cope.

[mmmm8]

Obviously, the wording came from an emotional place but is she that off? The world, on average, has a large presence of racism, mysogyny, homophobic and other isms and phobias. I wouldn't say tennis, or professional sports in general are the exception. If you look at the vitriol professional players, especially women, get on social media from gamblers and other types, it's pretty horrendous and it's fair to say the tennis "authorities" haven't done anything about it and also haven't really addressed many of the "isms" in the professional tennis community.

Was this the reason her career was mediocre? Probably no one knows. But is she wrong?

[ponchi101]

She is wrong if the level of vitriol, hate and all the other things she is complaining about come from Social Media, not tennis. In that case, the big FY's are to be directed to Social Media, not tennis, and you know me enough to know that I would approve of that statement a lot.
And yes, the world has a presence of all the ism's, but it is wrong to believe that there has been no progress. Being gay, for example, in the USA, Canada, Europe and countries like Argentina and Brasil, no longer carries an immediate sentence to be ostracized. Misogyny too; heck, by now, one of the few countries in the Americas that had not had a female president is the USA; many of the others have had them. Vennieland even has now a female dictator (try that for innovation).
I believe she is very wrong if her hatred towards tennis is based on those ism's.

[mmmm8]

She is wrong if the level of vitriol, hate and all the other things she is complaining about come from Social Media, not tennis. In that case, the big FY's are to be directed to Social Media, not tennis, and you know me enough to know that I would approve of that statement a lot.
And yes, the world has a presence of all the ism's, but it is wrong to believe that there has been no progress. Being gay, for example, in the USA, Canada, Europe and countries like Argentina and Brasil, no longer carries an immediate sentence to be ostracized. Misogyny too; heck, by now, one of the few countries in the Americas that had not had a female president is the USA; many of the others have had them. Vennieland even has now a female dictator (try that for innovation).
I believe she is very wrong if her hatred towards tennis is based on those ism's.

But she is not making a historical analysis about progress or lack thereof. Progress doesn't mean eradication. Surely, you'd agree that not being "immediately ostracized" in some countries certainly doesn't mean equality or equity.

We also don't know her experience. I would sincerely doubt that she'd never experienced mysogyny or racism in real life playing in ITFs all over the world. I can't imagine how discouraging that would be if you're also getting bombarded with hate online.

I don't understand why we are expecting her to be proper and grateful and maintain decorum. Does this make me want to hang out with her or do I think she's being respecful? No. Does she owe me or the sport at large some sort of gratitude? I don't see why.

[ponchi101]

Neither one extreme nor the other. I don't recall her mentioning these issues when she was on tour.
And I don't expect her to be grateful or maintain decorum, but I also do not expect her to be hateful and demeaning towards the sport. I do not expect anybody to claim there is equality to the fullest, but I don't expect them to claim they are experiencing 1950's Alabama every day.
She is the one claiming the sport is a terrible place to be, and that it hurt her. Fine. But show some evidence. If she really went through all this hell, it would be better for everybody if we knew her story and then, maybe, somebody could do something to improve the conditions. Leaving with a letter filled with FY's does not advance anybody in that quest for full equality, if we don't know the details.