The Dark Side of Tennis: 24-Year-Old Star Destanee Aiava Vanishes from Social Media Amid Sinister Threats and Retirement Rumors…
The world of tennis was recently shaken by the news that 24-year-old Australian player Destanee Aiava was retiring from the sport due to the overwhelming amount of hate messages, misogynistic comments, and death threats she received after every loss. This shocking announcement came after Aiava’s narrow loss to Gabriela Knutson in the final of the ITF Prague tournament, where she ultimately fell short with a score of 6-4 3-6 7-5.
Aiava took to X to share her decision, stating that she had made the “executive decision to retire due to receiving hate msgs (misogynistic) comments and death threats after every single loss.” However, this post only seemed to attract more negative reactions and insults, further emphasizing the toxic environment that Aiava was trying to escape.
In a surprising turn of events, Aiava’s X account is now no longer active. While some may assume that this is a permanent goodbye to the world of tennis, it’s likely that Aiava simply decided to deactivate her account to avoid the constant barrage of hate and negativity.
Interestingly, Aiava’s Instagram account is still active, and she recently posted a vlog from her time in Prague. This suggests that she may not be retiring from tennis after all, but rather taking a step back from the toxic online environment that has been plaguing her.
Aiava’s recent performance at the Australian Open was a highlight of her career, where she qualified for the main draw as a qualifier and saved two match points in a thrilling 5-7 7-5 7-6 (5) win over Greetje Minnen. Although she ultimately lost to Danielle Collins in the second round, Aiava’s confidence and determination were on full display throughout the tournament.
In a post-match interview, Aiava spoke candidly about her struggles with self-doubt and the importance of building confidence through experience. “I can sometimes get into a really bad head space and think that I was never going to win a first-round match or I wouldn’t ever qualify, as well, before I did at the (2024) US Open,” she said. “But I think once I actually do those things and the belief comes with it, then just the more situations I’m in, like this, it definitely gives me more confidence.”
Aiava’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact that online harassment and hate speech can have on individuals, particularly women in sports. As the tennis community rallies around Aiava, it’s clear that something needs to be done to address the toxic culture that has taken hold of the sport.
For now, Aiava’s future in tennis remains uncertain. However, one thing is clear: she deserves better than to be subjected to the kind of hate and harassment that she has endured. As we wait to see what’s next for Aiava, we can only hope that she will find a way to continue pursuing her passion for tennis without being driven out by the toxic forces that seek to destroy her.
