PLAYER PROFILE

Destanee Aiava

9
AUSTRALIAN
RANKING
196
WTA
RANKING
  • Age23
  • Born10 May 2000
  • Birth PlaceMelbourne, Victoria
  • LivesNarre Warren, Victoria
  • Height175 cm
  • PlaysRight-handed
  • CoachNicole Kriz
  • Pro Since2015
FOLLOW
“I’m improving each match this week and everything’s in good nick at the moment.”

— Destanee Aiava, 7 Feb 2020

» Aiava books Launceston semifinal

On court

  • Won the singles and doubles events at the 2011 Australian Optus Championships
  • In 2012, selected to represent Australia at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris; she went on to win the tournament. Her prize was a opportunity to hit with 22-time Grand Slam Champion Steffi Graf
  • Went a sparkling 41-7 on the ITF junior circuit in 2014, winning five titles (including the U18 Canadian World Ranking Event Montreal)
  • Reached the third round of the Australian Open junior championships in 2014 and 2015
  • Represented Australia in Junior Fed Cup play in 2014 and 2015; both years competed in the competition finals, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico (2014) and Madrid, Spain (2015)
  • In just her fourth ever pro tournament, reached the quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF event in Melbourne.
  • Upset No.3 seed Sara Tomic en route to the semifinals of the 18/u Australian Championships in 2015
  • Advanced to her first final at the Canberra Claycourt International #1 in March 2016 after beginning the week as a qualifier
  • At the Brisbane International in 2017, won three rounds of qualifying before beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the main draw to win her first WTA tour-level match.
  • Made her Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2017 at age 16, becoming the first player to be born in 2000 or later to compete in a major
  • Won her first professional title at the Australian Pro Tour event in Perth in February 2017
  • In April 2018, captured her first pro title overseas at the ITF 25K event in Osaka, Japan (beating former world No.38 Rebecca Marino in the final)
  • That same month, debuted in Australia’s Fed Cup team for the World Group Play-off tie against Netherlands in Wollongong, winning the doubles rubber with Daria Gavrilova
  • Stunned world No.10 and second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the first round of the WTA grass-court tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (June 2019)
  • In November 2022, won the Australian Pro Tour title in Traralgon, her first tournament win in three-and-a-half years.

Off court

  • Goal is to one day become world No.1 which inspires her to continually improve her game, much like her hero Roger Federer
  • Mother is a former rugby player; father is the Australian UFC coach
  • Started out playing soccer but says she was kicked off her junior team because “I wouldn’t pass the ball”
  • Nickname is ‘Des’.

Year-end singles ranking history

2023 186
2022 402
2021 310
2020 214
2019 197
2018 249
2017 150
2016 382
2015 674

Destanee Aiava in the news

Aussie weekly wrap: Nine Australian players celebrate title-winning runs
Ellen Perez and Alex de Minaur celebrating title-winning runs. Pictures: Getty Images
4 March, 2024

Australian players are shining brightly on the world stage, with Ellen Perez and Alex de Minaur among nine Aussies to scoop a title this week.
Read more
Li Tu claims Australian Pro Tour title in Traralgon
Li Tu is crowned champion in the Pro Tour event in Traralgon.
3 March, 2024

Li Tu caps a perfect week with victory over Alex Bolt in the Latrobe City Traralgon International final, securing the Australian Pro Tour title without the loss of a set.
Read more
Ranking movers: De Minaur, Thompson climb to new career-highs
ON THE RISE: Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson.
19 February, 2024

Australia's leading men, Alex de Minaur and Jordan Thompson, rise to unprecedented heights in the latest ATP Tour singles rankings.
Read more
Strong field set as Australian Pro Tour returns to Victoria
Li Tu, Priscilla Hon and Omar Jasika will compete on the Australian Pro Tour this week.
19 February, 2024

Li Tu, Priscilla Hon and Omar Jasika are the top seeds at an Australian Pro Tour event in the Victorian town of Traralgon this week.
Read more
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