Destanee Aiava is one win away from qualifying at consecutive grand slams, only days after rating her United Cup experience her “worst” Australian Open preparation ever.
The 24-year-old joined Maddison Inglis, Kim Birrell, Blake Ellis and Elena Micic on Wednesday in advancing to final-round qualifying at Melbourne Park as they attempt to swell Australia’s main draw presence beyond 20.
Aiava has endured a challenging decade since being the world’s top-ranked 14-year-old girl, including being diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Destanee Aiava during Australian Open qualifying on Wednesday.Credit: Eddie Jim
But her 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Hungary’s Panna Udvardy was another positive step after her New York breakthrough.
“It will mean everything [if I can qualify],” Aiava said.
“I’ve worked so hard, and had a big pre-season to prepare for this, specifically. This is my favourite slam – I’m like an hour away from home – so it would just be the best.”
Aiava spent last week with Australia’s United Cup squad, but did not play a match.
She said afterwards on her YouTube vlog that the competition format was only appealing if you were your country’s No.1 player – but you should otherwise “run for your life”.
Aiava also rated her United Cup experience only a two out of 10.
“It was a challenging week, but I don’t think I would have changed the way it went,” she said.
“I think it taught me a lot, and it’s done me wonders for this week, even though I didn’t get a match to prepare. I just learned what I could, then implemented it on the match court this week.
“I made that vlog because I enjoy posting my life and just being myself. I didn’t really mean anything malicious by it. It’s just the way I am – what you see is what you get with me.
“I didn’t really want it to become something negative, but for some reason, it got picked up by the news. It gave me some more subscribers, I guess.”
Aiava said she reflected on her junior success regularly and how her professional career had so far not turned out how she had hoped.
“I do look back on it quite a bit, and I sometimes feel a bit sad,” she said.
“I feel like I should be there by now, but I know everyone’s on a different journey, and it’s just [about] coming to terms with that.
“[My] mental health and stuff, I’ve struggled with, so, like I say, everyone’s on a different path, and I think mine’s slowly getting back on track.”
Inglis, who memorably made the last 32 at the 2022 Australian Open, rallied from behind to beat fifth seed Sara Sorribes Tormo, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, across two hours and 18 minutes.
Birrell, who, like Aiava, qualified at last year’s US Open, came through juniors with Inglis and overcame another junior peer, Priscilla Hon, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a tough battle that ended with a bold backhand winner that barely clipped the baseline.
“We’ve been travelling together since we were like 12, and they’re such good friends [of mine], so it’s really great to see them do well,” Inglis said of Birrell and Hon.
“I said to Kim, [what she did in Brisbane] last week was so inspiring. If she can do it, why can’t we do it? That gives us all that confidence to beat those top girls. I actually did try and channel a little bit of Kim out there today. She fights for every point.”
It was 99th-ranked Birrell’s second three-set win over Hon in as many weeks after outlasting her on the way to last week’s Brisbane International quarter-finals.
Kim Birrell in action against her great mate, Priscilla Hon.Credit: Eddie Jim
The close friends embraced at the net in an emotional moment for both players.
“It’s just the nature of our sport. It’s brutal sometimes, and to play each other, two weeks in a row, is just crazy,” Birrell said.
“No matter what happens on court, we have so much respect for each other … our friendship will last, no matter what happens within our careers.
“I’ve played my fair share of big matches now, so I know what to expect … I’m not always going to come out on top, but today was one of the moments that I did, so I’ve got to savour them while I can because I know what it feels like to be on the other side, and it’s tough.”
Ellis, 25, blitzed Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki 6-1, 6-4, while 20-year-old Micic progressed when Darya Astakhova retired trailing 6-2, 3-1.
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