Former Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has changed her nationality to New Zealand ahead of her final season on tour. The 26-year-old made the switch official in recent weeks after representing Australia for 11 years. She had announced her retirement from professional tennis in February.
Aiava, born in Melbourne, gained eligibility for New Zealand through her Kiwi father of Samoan descent and her mother from American Samoa. She turned professional in 2015 and reached a career-high ranking of world No. 147. Her Grand Slam debut came at the 2017 Australian Open.
The player has cited years of racial abuse and a lack of enjoyment as reasons for retiring at the end of 2026. She told an interviewer in February that she had never loved the sport and found the daily demands difficult to sustain.
Aiava last competed at the Australian Open earlier this year, losing in the first qualifying round. She has since begun preparations to switch to netball, scheduling her first training session for the week of June 12.
