Destanee Aiava powers her way into Brisbane International main draw

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This was published 7 years ago

Destanee Aiava powers her way into Brisbane International main draw

By Phil Lutton
Updated

Australia's newest rising tennis star is an All Blacks supporter who idolises Serena Williams and prepared for her second WTA Tour event by training in Melbourne in tracky daks to emulate the sweltering Brisbane summer.

There is very little that is regulation about Destanee Aiava, who at just 16 has bulldozed her way into the Brisbane International main draw after already securing a spot in the Australian Open and the Kooyong Classic.

Aiava was all power and precision as she swept aside Germany's world number 86 Carina Witthoeft 6-1, 6-1 in stifling conditions that left both combatants drained as on-court temperatures closed in on 40 degrees.

She had already beaten American Samantha Crawford and Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in straight sets to earn a shot at US veteran Bethany Mattek-Sands in the opening round on Monday.

Power play: Destanee Aiava has made her presence felt at the Brisbane International.

Power play: Destanee Aiava has made her presence felt at the Brisbane International.Credit: Getty Images

Aiava, born in Melbourne to Samoan parents, had done her research before heading north, hitting up in long pants and a jumper in an effort to mimic the Queensland humidity under the watchful eye of mother Rosie, a self-taught tennis coach.

"I'm kind of used to it now. I acclimatised myself to the weather. So, like, I trained in trackies around 30 degrees, get used to it," Aiava said.

Polynesian players are few and far between on the professional tennis circuit but Aiava uses here genetics to her great advantage. Already she has muscle definition to rival Sam Stosur and admits she still hasn't finished growing.

For a tennis prodigy, Aiava has come from the most unlikely of backgrounds. After watching the Australian Open as a five-year-old and being inspired by the wonder of Williams, she told Rosie and her father Mark she wanted to pursue the sport.

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It was met with scratched heads. Not surprisingly, rugby ruled the roost in the house while father Mark has also dabbled in powerlifting and now coaches mixed martial arts, which Destanee incorporates into her training.

"I was watching the Oz Open on TV and I was watching Serena, and I was, like, I want to become No. 1 in the world," Aiava said.

"They were like, 'Oh, we didn't know anything about tennis."

No problem. Rosie would observe from the sidelines and now coaches her daughter, who was giving her a series of grimaced looks as she faltered briefly in disposing of Witthoeft on Sunday.

"She's been watching my training, so I think she's learned a lot. It helps a lot," Aiava said. "She's really hard on me but I think that helps a lot. So I don't get like too complacent, you know."

As much as she adores the way Williams conducts herself on and off the court - "I think it was just her vibe. I couldn't feel it from the other side of the TV" - Aiava said she tried to base herself on some of the leading male players, mixing raw baseline power with an all-round game.

Against Witthoeft, she showed lightning reflexes with a series of razor volleys under fatigue to help close out the match. Now she must add some resilience to the obvious talent as she prepares to play her fourth game in as many days

"I think I'm really starting to enjoy tennis and just being out there and enjoying the challenge. Not thinking about winning or losing too much," she said.

"I'd really like to try and get past the first round of the Australian Open. That's my main goal... and trying to get as far as I can for this tournament. We'll see where we go from there."

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Alas, if Aiava is destined to be adopted as Australia's latest sporting wonderchild, the Kiwis can at least claim a part. There's always a catch.

"Yeah. I support the All Blacks, not the Wallabies."

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