A rising Aussie tennis player has slammed British tennis commentators for attacking Japanese star Naomi Osaka for her choice of attire at the Australian Open.
Destanee Aiava is an Australian professional tennis player who rose to prominence as a teenager, making history as the first 2000s-born Grand Slam competitor.
Aiava was knocked out in Australian Open qualifying and did not reach the main draw, however she has been an active spectator on social media.
And the young Aussie star most recently took exception to a BBC 5 Live Sport social media post that took aim at ‘Naomi Osaka’s eye-catching outfit choices at the Australian Open’.
‘I felt there was an element of disrespect to the sport of tennis,’ seven-time major doubles champion Jamie Murray said in commentary.
‘It looked a bit cheap, a little bit tacky,’ tennis commentator Eliza Wastcoat added.
Rising Australian tennis star Destanee Aiava has hit back at criticism of Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open
Osaka has worn bold outfit choices at the Aussie Open which have proven divisive amongst tennis fans
That came after she previously lashed Osaka’s attire on her itselizasworld Instagram account.
‘You are simply lying to yourself if you say you like Naomi Osaka’s walk on outfit,’ she said at the time.
‘You know what? I am tired of my own argument that anything that gets people talking about tennis is a good thing.
‘Because tacky and tasteless fashion choices do not do the heritage of tennis or fashion any justice.’
Aiava replied to the BBC post on social media.
‘I really don’t think it’s that dramatic,’ she posted.
‘Gosh no wonder this sport will always be seen as super stuffy to those on the outside. Comments like this feel too elitist.
‘God forbid any player attempts to do something a little bit different and out of the box.’
Aiava took exception to comments made by BBC media personalities that were then shared on social media
Doubles champion Jamie Murray was one of the commentators that slammed Osaka’s wardrobe choice
Tennis commentator Eliza Wastcoat repeatedly lashed Osaka’s walk out outfits and made no apologies for it
She also shared it to her Instagram Story, slamming BBC for only thinking the sport was for white people.
‘Just say you think tennis [is] only for the white people,’ she posted.
‘You people forget that the only reason people give a f*** about watching tennis these days is because of people like Naomi [Osaka], the Williams sisters, Coco [Gauff], even Nick [Kyrgios].
‘Controversy aside, y’all still talk about it, good or bad, because of them, because they’re not boring, even tho you s*** talk them. BFFR [be f***ing for real].’
Aiava previously hit back at an online troll who posted what she described as a ‘f***ing disgusting’ comment about her appearance on social media.
After being knocked out in Australian Open qualifying, she shared the comment publicly on Instagram and explained she chose not to block the user immediately.
She posted clips of a heated exchange, saying she wanted to see how far the troll would go and accusing them of bullying rather than expressing an opinion.
Aiava said body shaming and personal abuse were disrespectful and unacceptable, regardless of her status as a public figure.
Aiava previously spoke out after she was attacked by trolls during qualifying for the Australian Open
She added that she had faced similar abuse throughout her career and criticised the idea that public figures should tolerate such behaviour.
Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open just hours before her scheduled third-round match against Maddison Inglis, citing an abdominal injury.
She said the decision broke her heart but explained she could not risk further damage after her condition worsened during warm-up.
Her withdrawal triggered a wave of online speculation, with some fans claiming she quit because she could not handle criticism following a controversial on-court clash and backlash over her fashion choice.
Those critics pointed to her heated exchange with Sorana Cirstea, who accused Osaka of unsportsmanlike behaviour, and Osaka’s subsequent apology for disrespectful comments.
Several fans argued the injury explanation fit a pattern of past withdrawals following public criticism, fuelling conspiracy theories across social media.
Despite the claims, Osaka maintained she had been playing with pain, needed medical tests, and had to be cautious after changes to her body since pregnancy.
