AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 9, 2025

Destanee Aiava

Press Conference

D. AIAVA/E. Lys

6-1, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win today. How does it feel to be part of the main draw?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yeah, it feels amazing. It's been a couple years since I was playing AO main. To qualify as well feels even better.

Yeah, I think I earned my way in the main draw.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How are you feeling about your form, given you also went through qualifying for the US Open? Do you feel you're on the right trajectory?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yeah, I took that experience and the confidence from qualifying at US Open and used it here. Yeah, I think my game's only improved in the last year, as well.

So yeah, I'm just happy to continue it.

Q. Can you talk to us about has anything changed, done things differently? Has something happened to trigger this form? Has it been a gradual build?

DESTANEE AIAVA: I think it's more so my mentality. It's really me getting out of my own way and actually not shying away from wanting to succeed in this sport.

I know I've always had the talent and the hard work and all the other stuff. It's just my brain (laughter).

Q. Can you explain that to us. How did you get to that point? What did you do to unlock that?

DESTANEE AIAVA: I think it was just a matter of actually putting myself in positions to play those big matches and get more experience, like qualifying for US Open, even reaching last round of quallies here last year, as well. All those matches, they add up. Even if I lose, I still learnt so much from it.

Yeah, I think the older I get, as well, yeah, I think it just comes with maturity, too.

Q. It's been four years since you've been in a main draw here. Are there times you start to think, Is it ever going to happen again?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yeah, I definitely thought that quite a bit. During the match, as well (smiling).

Yeah, I just sort of try to give myself goals and deadlines. I feel like I perform better under stress and pressure that I self-inflict upon myself (laughter).

Yeah, I think me, I don't know, doing my goal settings before this tournament helped a lot, yeah.

Q. As you go to play in the main draw, do you have another goal?

DESTANEE AIAVA: My goal was to qualify for this one. Yeah, I mean, I told myself if I wasn't happy with my year this year, then I'm going to go get a degree.

But yeah, I feel like I perform better if I just don't attach myself to my results as often as I do. Yeah, it's hard to do that. I just try to take it one match at a time.

Q. Did you have a ranking you had to be inside? A certain number of results?

DESTANEE AIAVA: For this year? I want to obviously get inside the top hundred by the end of the year. But I think me qualifying for this one, as well, even if I don't reach my ranking goal, I think it just shows me that I still have it in me and I can do whatever I want. If I just really want it and if I work hard enough for it, it can happen.

Q. What degree are you considering down the line? You had an immediate impact when you were quite young. A meandering path since. How do you look at the young Australian players coming in? Do you have any advice for them?

DESTANEE AIAVA: So the degree I want to do is fashion design.

Then seeing all the young players from Australia do so well, especially Maya, Emerson. I'm pretty sure Maya made the semis of Hobart today. They're both doing amazing. I've lost to Emerson (smiling). I think she's going to be a star very soon. Yeah, Maya is almost top hundred. I'm not sure.

Yeah, it's just amazing to see that we have so many really good juniors coming through. I think it does motivate us older girls, as well, to see they're so young, they're already so far ahead of us.

So yeah, I think it's more so motivating, as well. Yeah, super happy for them.

Q. You mentioned fashion design. Everyone in the room is desperate to hear about your latest eBay purchases. Anything you got planned for the main draw?

DESTANEE AIAVA: I found one on Facebook yesterday before my match. I might go pick that up (laughter). Only $35, which is a steal.

But yeah, I've struggled with clothing sponsorships for the last couple years. I love my fashion. I always love the older dresses that don't get any wear in anymore.

Yeah, I didn't really think it would make any impact at all, me wearing the dresses. But I'm glad I did. Yeah, it's been fun bringing them back.

Q. You don't want to tell us what it is?

DESTANEE AIAVA: It's blue. I've got my eye on a couple others (smiling).

Q. Your fiancé's support, it's been well-documented that you had struggles with your mental health through the years. Is this part of it, you're happy off the court, giving you a bit more resolve, calmness?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yeah, I think definitely staying happy off court impacts my results on the court. Yeah, he's been a great help, stuck by me through a lot of things. Yeah, it's so hard to be with someone that has BPD.

Yeah, I always have my bad days and bad tournaments. I always want to quit whenever I lose. After that I feel better, after I've eaten a cookie or something.

Yeah, before my matches, this whole week I've felt sick to my stomach. I was just so anxious. Yeah, I'm just really happy with today.

Q. Do you have a wedding planned?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yes. Next year 2026, November.

Q. Was there specific meanings behind the dresses you've chosen to wear so far?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Not really. I just bought whatever I liked, to be honest.

Q. Any specific ones you have your eyes on?

DESTANEE AIAVA: This blue adidas one. Yeah, I've got a lot of the Ana Ivanovic dresses lately. Yeah, the blue one is one of hers. Serena's stuff. Maria Sharapova's, as well. I just loved what they wore.

Q. Do you alter them or just wear them?

DESTANEE AIAVA: No, I just buy whatever size I think I can fit, then I just wear it.

Q. It's good to bring back the iconic looks. Do you have any thoughts on the fashion world generally and where tennis sits in that?

DESTANEE AIAVA: Yes. I think some of the stuff that is being designed are quite ugly (laughter). I just like to wear what I think looks good. I don't like wearing the same thing as everyone else.

I know I had to do that whilst I was sponsored. I am hoping to get a sponsor. I'll probably have to put up with wearing the same thing as other people.

But yeah, for now I'm loving picking whatever I want to wear, buying whatever I want. Yeah, I think even if you lose, it's still kind of a fashion runway when you're on the court.