Destanee Aiava Receives Australian Open Wild Card
Tennis – Australian youngster has received a wildcard for the main draw of the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month. Aiava also received a wildcard into the Australian Open last year after winning the 2016 18/u Australian Championships and she went on to lose to World No.
1 Simona Halep 6-7, 1-6 on the Centre Court. Speaking to AAP after receving the wild card on Friday, Aiava commented, I really enjoyed that (playing last year) the first time playing on Rod Laver. She was just too good on the day but I learnt a lot from that match and its pushed me this whole year to be better.
Ive improved a lot from that match and probably the focus is to just improve more and maybe win a couple of rounds because I know thats where Im at at the moment and Im capable of it. Aiava became the first player born in this century to play a Grand Slam singles match when she made her Australian Open debut in Melbourne last year.
She said she is hoping to handle the situation and the expectations better last year. Theres expectation that comes with that as well, especially during the Aussie summer; that you need to perform and play well.
Ive just learned to push that aside and not pay too much attention to it because this is my career path and no one else can tell you, you can do this. Its just all up to me on the court at the end of the day.
But I think my first year coming onto the scene, I did struggle with it a bit, as any young person would. I have a small group that keeps me humble and theyre all really good people and I like to keep my circle small. The tennis world is just crazy.
But Ive certainly learnt from all those experiences and I know what to expect now. Australian Open organisers have also granted wildcards to Ellen Perez, who climbed more than 150 spots in the rankings to end the year at No.
177 and Zoe Hives, who climbed from No, 378 to No. 220.
