14 January 2025 | Tennis Victoria

After 2 exciting days at the AO let’s take a look back on our courageous Victorians that have played so far.

Day 1:

The first day kicked off to an extremely wet and stormy start however this did not dim the passion of our players competing on Day 1, Daria Saville and Omar Jasika.

Whilst the matchup between Hugo Gaston and Omar Jasika got off to a good start, they were subsequently forced to take a break from play for over 6 hours whilst the rain came down heavy on Court 3. It wasn’t until after 6 PM the play finally got underway with Jasika claiming the second set. However, the tide changed as the match continued as the Frenchman smashed 55 winning points. The match ended with Gaston defeating Jasika 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2.

Later on, Daria Saville was defeated by Russian world No.73 Anna Blinkova, going down 1-6 6-4 7-5. After a series of serious injuries, Saville has gotten back into the swing of playing after her official return at the US Open earlier this year. Saville showed courage and raw determination in an enthusiastic match however unfortunately was unable to keep the Russian at bay ultimately falling short.

Day 2:

On the second day, the first Victorian match began in the mid-afternoon between Destanee Aiava and Belgian Greet Minnen who currently has a has career-high WTA ranking of world No. 59 in singles. The match proved to be a tough one as Aiava ended on top in a nail-biting finish. Aiava triumphed 5-7, 7-5, 7-6. Although she struggled early in the first set, trailing 5-2, Aiava turned the match around, saving important points in the final two sets. The hometown crowd rallied behind her, roaring with support as she secured the victory in a big finish.

Congratulations to all our Victorians who have made it this far in the competition! We are incredibly proud of the grit, determination, and good-spirited sportsmanship on display so far. Now it’s time to rally behind Destanee as she prepares for her next big match against Danielle Collins, the American 10th seed.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates on matches, players, and everything happening on and off the court. If you’re attending the Australian Open, use #VicsAtTheAO on your social content—we’d love to see everyone showing their support for Destanee and the other Victorians playing in the upcoming doubles matches!

January 12: Omar Jasika (AUS) during Round 1 on Court 3 at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ ADAM TRAFFORD

January 12: Daria Saville (AUS) during Round 1 on Margaret Court Arena at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Sunday, January 12, 2025. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MORGAN HANCOCK

January 13: Destanee Aiava (AUS) during Round 1 on Court 3 at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Monday, January 13, 2025. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MORGAN HANCOCK