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17 January 2025 | Tennis Victoria

Local girl from Narre Warren, 24-year-old Destanee Aiava is a rising star in Victorian tennis. Currently ranked No. 10 in Australia and holding a WTA ranking of 177, Destanee has been making her mark on the international tennis stage with her skilful game and raw determination. Her professional career officially started in 2015, but her love for tennis began much earlier. From the first time she picked up a tennis racquet as young child to championing junior tournaments, Aiava’s natural abilities and committed attitude has always been prevalent. She became the first player born in the 2000s to compete in a Grand Slam main draw when she played at the Australian Open in 2017, a moment that cemented her place as someone to keep an eye on in the competitive tennis world.

Key Achievements:

  • Early Achievements
    In 2011, Aiava secured both the singles and doubles titles at the Australian Optus Championships. The following year, she represented Australia at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris, where she prevailed as the champion.
  • Junior Circuit Success
    The year 2014 was a breakout season for Aiava. She compiled an impressive 41-7 record on the ITF junior circuit, winning five titles, including the prestigious U18 Canadian World Ranking Event in Montreal. She also reached the third round of the Australian Open Junior Championships in 2014 and repeated this feat in 2015. During these years, she represented Australia in the Junior Fed Cup, competing in the finals held in San Luis Potosí, Mexico (2014), and Madrid, Spain (2015).
  • Pro Circuit Beginnings
    Aiava made an immediate impact in her professional debut. In just her fourth pro tournament, she reached the quarterfinals of a $15,000 ITF event in Melbourne. In 2015, she upset No. 3 seed Sara Tomic to advance to the semifinals of the Australian 18/U Championships. By March 2016, Aiava reached her first professional final at the Canberra Clay Court International #1 after starting the week as a qualifier.
  • Milestones and Breakthroughs
    The Brisbane International 2017 marked her WTA tour-level breakthrough. After winning three rounds of qualifying, she defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the main draw for her first WTA match victory. That same year, at just 16 years old, Aiava made history as the first player born in the 2000s to compete in a Grand Slam, debuting at the Australian Open. She also secured her first professional title at the Australian Pro Tour event in Perth in February 2017.
  • International Success and Fed Cup Debut
    In 2018, Aiava captured her first overseas pro title at the ITF 25K event in Osaka, Japan, defeating former world No. 38 Rebecca Marino in the final. That same month, she debuted for Australia’s Fed Cup team during the World Group Play-off tie against the Netherlands, winning the doubles rubber alongside Daria Saville.
  • Other Highlights
    June 2019 saw Aiava defeat Aryna Sabalenka, who currently has a WTA ranking of No. 1, in the opening round of the WTA grass-court tournament in the Netherlands. In November 2022, she ended a three-and-a-half-year victory drought by winning the Australian Pro Tour event in Traralgon. Recently, in 2024, Aiava was one of five Australian women to qualify for the US Open, marking another huge milestone in her career.

AO25 Results:

Day 1 – Qualifiers

The Australian Open qualifiers began with a strong performance from Victoria’s Destanee Aiava, who defeated Romania’s Ana Bogdan in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Aiava’s confident start set the tone for an exciting week ahead.

January 6: Destanee Aiava (AUS) during Round 1 Qualifying Round 1 on Court 1573 in Qualifying at Melbourne Park on Monday, January 6, 2025. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/MARK PETERSON

Day 3 – Qualifiers

Aiava continued her strong form, overpowering Hungary’s Panna Udvardy 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final qualifying round. Relive some moments from her exciting match here.

Day 4 – Qualifiers

Day 4 of qualifiers saw Aiava secure her spot in the AO main draw with a thrilling 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Eva Lys, delighting the home crowd. You can rewatch her match winning point here.

January 9: Destanee Aiava (AUS) during Round 3 Qualifying on Court 3 at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ JOSH CHADWICK

Day 2 – Main Draw

On the second day, the Round 1 match began in the mid-afternoon between 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.

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

Day 5 – Main Draw

Next, Aiava faced her most challenging opponent so far in 10th seed Danielle Collins from the United States in what was destined to be a hard-fought battle. Collins ultimately claimed a 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-2 win in an intense contest that spanned two hours and 25 minutes. Aiava demonstrated outstanding resilience and dexterity in the first set, where she pushed Collins to a tense tiebreak. Her steadfast determination was highlighted in the second set, where she won 6-4, showcasing Aiava’s ability to elevate her game to compete with one of the world’s top players. Collins managed to pull away with a strong performance in the third set, however Aiava’s composure under pressure was impressive.

Day 6 – Doubles

Aiava came back to play with partner Maddison Inglis, where they were defeated by Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk and Romanian Elena-Gabriela Ruse in a competitive match with the final scores sitting at 6-4, 7(7)-6(2).

Day 7 – Doubles

Aiava and Omar Jassika took to court against Italians Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. Ultimately the Italians came over the top and secured the win with a final scoreline of 6-3,6-4.

At this year’s AO, Destanee Aiava has captured the hearts of not only Victorians and Australian tennis fans, but also fans from across the globe. She has impressed audiences with her incredible skills and determination on the court, while earning admiration for the grace and good sportsmanship she has displayed off it. Her poise under the immense pressure of her matches and her heartfelt connection to the game have been truly inspiring. Aiava has credited much of her recent success at her home Slam to the unwavering support of the local crowd, sharing how their energy and encouragement carried her through some of the tournament’s toughest moments.

Her remarkable progress this year stands as a testament to her hard work and resilience. Breezing through the qualifying rounds not only demonstrated her talent but also lifted her confidence in both her game and contributed to added belief in her own ability – Aiava proved she belongs among the best in the sport. Reflecting on her performance in her press conference following her defeat to Danielle Collins, she said, “I think I showed myself this week that I do belong here,” a statement that underscores her growing self-belief. With this impressive milestone behind her, we can’t wait to see what’s next in Aiava’s journey as she continues to rise through the ranks and inspire fans in Victoria and beyond.

#VicsAtTheAO