Just four months ago, Destanee Aiava called tennis her “toxic boyfriend” and announced that 2026 would be her last year competing, but has since apparently changed her mind about retirement and also surprised by switching flags from Australia to New Zealand.
In February, Aiava shared an emotionally charged message on social media, extremely frustrated with life in professional tennis. “F—k 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,” the 26-year-old wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post.
However, her outlook changed in a blink. Already by March, she had decided to stay in the sport, announcing: “Life update: got accepted into my dream degree today, decided yesterday I’m playing again so let’s try to romanticise tennis, if you didn’t already know I’m just an indecisive girl but I keep it real and unhinged here, live love laugh.”
Recently, fans noticed a change on Aiava’s WTA profile, where a new flag appeared alongside her name. Once an Australian player, she is now listed as representing New Zealand.
According to reports, the change was made to honor her ailing father, Mark, a mixed martial arts coach who was born in New Zealand to Samoan parents. Mark suffered serious head injuries, including a brain bleed and skull fracture, and remains in critical condition. Aiava is said to have made the decision to fulfil a wish he had expressed prior to the medical emergency. Aiava’s mother, Rosie, is a former rugby player and kickboxer who was born in American Samoa.
Currently ranked No. 531, Aiava remains far from her career-high mark of No. 147. She endured a disappointing start to the 2026 season, losing her opening matches at both Australian events she entered in January. Nevertheless, she found some momentum in April, capturing a title on the UTR Pro Tennis Series circuit.
Unfortunately I think this girl is just a bit of a mess. She had a lot of promise and got a lot of opportunities when she was younger, training and wild cards and whatever, but inevitably that dwindled when she was unable to follow through with any sort of consistent standard. I don’t know what they did to her that was so toxic. Maybe it was suggested she lose weight, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she got some flak on social media, but “tennis” is not responsible for that, horrible humans are. I’m sure if she had done well everyone would love her whatever her colour or size or whatever. Australia is desperate for good tennis players to relive the glory days of the 1960s! She needs to take some responsibility for her own situation not blame it on everyone and everything else.
I always find players who change countries completely bizarre- what ties does Destanee have to NZ? Has she spent any time there at all? And what about funding etc provided by Australia? Potapova, Klimovicova…they treat it like changing clothes.
Destanee’s whole ‘i hate tennis, I’m quitting….no wait, don’t know what else to do with my life, I’m back playing’ shtick is also completely messed up.
She was touted from a really young age, hit with Steffi Graf and had some early results. However, she never had the game or talent to be a solid top 100 player, and has never shown any kind of maturity to evaluate her career and her own shortcomings.