Ex-AFL player Ty Vickery speaks out on divorce from tennis star wife just days after she joined OnlyFans

Former AFL forward Ty Vickery has spoken out after his tennis star wife, Arina Rodionova, launched an OnlyFans account and announced the couple’s divorce in an unusual social media video.

Rodionova, 35, who recently exited in the second round of Australian Open qualifying to Eva Lys, shared the news with her followers in a light-hearted clip featuring her now ex-partner.

In the video, Rodionova sat beside Vickery, who was holding a half-eaten banana, and said: ‘We’re getting divorced. We’ve been separated for about a year. Friends and family know, but we just wanted to let the wider community know about this situation. Thank you.’

Vickery chimed in and said: ‘We’re good. We’re good with each other, and we wish each other the best. Thanks for the support.’

The moment took a playful turn when Rodionova extended her hand for a handshake, only for Vickery to pass her the banana instead.

The pair, who married in 2015, burst into laughter as the video ended.

Rodionova captioned the post: ‘Life happens. We have lots of love for each other, but sometimes it’s just not enough.’

Shortly after her Australian Open exit, the Russian-born player, who once achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No 97, unveiled her new venture on OnlyFans.

Announcing the launch of her profile, she said: ‘My account was confirmed, so here we go. Let’s do this.’

Addressing the buzz surrounding her divorce, she joked: ‘This seems like a good time to start posting all those bikini photos from the Maldives… on my OF account obviously.’

Rodionova, who describes herself in her OnlyFans bio as a ‘tennis player but a fun one,’ has yet to advance beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.

Her best performance came at Wimbledon in 2017.

Vickery, 34, joined AFL club Richmond Tigers as a highly touted junior after he was taken as pick 8 in the 2008 National Draft.

The tall forward never could find his footing at the elite level, playing 119 games at Richmond for 158 goals between 2009 and 2016.

He then joined Hawthorn Hawks as a free agent but announced his retirement at the end of 2017 after playing only six games.

Vickery, son of former Collingwood Magpies player John Vickery, said he retired because he lost his ‘passion’ for the game.

Vickery is well known for knocking out now Sydney Swans coach and former West Coast Eagles ruckman Dean Cox during an ugly boundary line incident during a game in 2014.

Russian-born Rodionova, who represents Australia, was knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round of qualifiers by German Eva Lys on January 8.

Speaking to her 25,000 social media followers, she added: ‘Friends and family know but we just wanted to let the wider community know about this situation’

She went on to announce the creation of her adult fan site on January 12, sparking rumours amongst her fans that she and her husband may have separated.

‘Good news for everyone who was asking. My OnlyFans account was confirmed so here we go. Let’s do this,’ she wrote in an Instagram post at the time.

Her career change may have been encouraged by a comment made by a fan, who suggested that she could make better money off the court.

‘Stop with tennis, you’ll make more money with OnlyFans,’ she read out during a vlog appearance last year, describing it as ‘the best compliment’ of the year.

Rodionova had already posted multiple pictures on Instagram of her luxury trip to the Maldives at the end of last year.

She went on the holiday with Russian-Estonian Olympic silver medallist ice skater Natalia Zabiiako, who she said was ‘a good photographer’.

Hours after posting the divorce video to her grid, Rodionova took to her Instagram Stories with a picture of herself on a flight out of Sydney.

‘Bye Australia, love you always,’ she wrote.

‘Also you guys should be real grateful I went through the break-up without posting a million inspirational quotes on Insta. You are welcome.’

Rodionova and Vickery tied the knot in December 2015 – just hours after she scored a semi-final win in the Australian Open wildcard qualifier tournament.

She beat Australian pro Storm Sanders in a morning match in Melbourne at 11.10am before walking down the aisle less than five hours later at 4pm.

‘Just a good day all round today,’ Rodionova said on the day of her wedding after the match against Storm.

‘I have a few hours to get ready and marry the most amazing guy ever and I’m so looking forward to it.

‘It was really tough to play today mentally. Obviously the wedding is on my mind.’

Vickery was absent from Rodionova’s semi-final, telling family and friends that as per tradition, he shouldn’t see his future bride until the wedding service.

Rodionova went on to compete at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and Wimbledon in 2017.

She has ended her career on a high after last year becoming the oldest woman to make a top 100 debut at the age of 34.

She is currently ranked at 184 in the WTA rankings.

Vickery played suburban and country football in Victoria after his retirement from the AFL.