
“Everyone was all of a sudden interested in either the outfits, or my tennis, or the Collins match. My phone did not stop blowing up. I had to change my settings and everything.”
— Destanee Aiava, 13 May 2025
» Aiava on Collins: “She was so kind to me”
On court
- Won the singles and doubles events at the 2011 Australian Optus Championships
- In 2012, selected to represent Australia at the Longines Future Tennis Aces tournament in Paris; she went on to win the tournament. Her prize was a opportunity to hit with 22-time Grand Slam Champion Steffi Graf
- Went a sparkling 41-7 on the ITF junior circuit in 2014, winning five titles (including the U18 Canadian World Ranking Event Montreal)
- Reached the third round of the Australian Open junior championships in 2014 and 2015
- Represented Australia in Junior Fed Cup play in 2014 and 2015; both years competed in the competition finals, in San Luis Potosi, Mexico (2014) and Madrid, Spain (2015)
- In just her fourth ever pro tournament, reached the quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF event in Melbourne.
- Upset No.3 seed Sara Tomic en route to the semifinals of the 18/u Australian Championships in 2015
- Advanced to her first final at the Canberra Claycourt International #1 in March 2016 after beginning the week as a qualifier
- At the Brisbane International in 2017, won three rounds of qualifying before beating Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the main draw to win her first WTA tour-level match.
- Made her Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2017 at age 16, becoming the first player to be born in 2000 or later to compete in a major
- Won her first professional title at the Australian Pro Tour event in Perth in February 2017
- In April 2018, captured her first pro title overseas at the ITF 25K event in Osaka, Japan (beating former world No.38 Rebecca Marino in the final)
- That same month, debuted in Australia’s Fed Cup team for the World Group Play-off tie against Netherlands in Wollongong, winning the doubles rubber with Daria Gavrilova
- Stunned world No.10 and second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the first round of the WTA grass-court tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (June 2019)
- In November 2022, won the Australian Pro Tour title in Traralgon, her first tournament win in three-and-a-half years
- Was among a record five Australian women to qualify at US Open 2024.
Off court
- Goal is to one day become world No.1 which inspires her to continually improve her game, much like her hero Roger Federer
- Mother is a former rugby player; father is the Australian UFC coach
- Started out playing soccer but says she was kicked off her junior team because “I wouldn’t pass the ball”
- Nickname is ‘Des’.
Year-end singles ranking history
2023 | 186 |
2022 | 402 |
2021 | 310 |
2020 | 214 |
2019 | 197 |
2018 | 249 |
2017 | 150 |
2016 | 382 |
2015 | 674 |
Destanee Aiava in the news
Aiava on Collins: “She was so kind to me”

13 May, 2025
On this week’s episode of The Sit-Down, Destanee Aiava reflects on an Australian Open 2025 run that changed the course of her career – as well as that infamous match…
Read moreOn this week’s episode of The Sit-Down, Destanee Aiava reflects on an Australian Open 2025 run that changed the course of her career – as well as that infamous match…
Aiava, Schoolkate awarded Roland Garros wildcards
![Aiava-Schoolkate-Roland-Garros-wildcards Destanee Aiava (L) and Tristan Schoolkate have been awarded main-draw wildcards for Roland Garros. [Photos: Tennis Australia / Getty Images]](https://www.tennis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Aiava-Schoolkate-Roland-Garros-wildcards-700x450.jpg)
12 May, 2025
Destanee Aiava and Tristan Schoolkate have been awarded Roland Garros wildcards, boosting the Australian main-draw contingent in singles in Paris to 15.
Read moreDestanee Aiava and Tristan Schoolkate have been awarded Roland Garros wildcards, boosting the Australian main-draw contingent in singles in Paris to 15.
Ranking Movers: Vukic returns to form in Estoril

6 May, 2025
Aleksandar Vukic returns to the world's top 80 after an Estoril semifinal run featuring his biggest match win since Australian Open 2025.
Read moreAleksandar Vukic returns to the world's top 80 after an Estoril semifinal run featuring his biggest match win since Australian Open 2025.
Big Aussie contingent set for Roland Garros
![Australians-at-Roland-Garros (L-R) Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Alex de Minaur, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint are all on the Roland Garros main-draw entry lists. [Getty Images]](https://www.tennis.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Australians-at-Roland-Garros-700x450.jpg)
2 May, 2025
At least 13 Australians are confirmed in the main draw for the year’s second Grand Slam event at Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday 25 May 2025.
Read moreAt least 13 Australians are confirmed in the main draw for the year’s second Grand Slam event at Roland Garros, which begins on Sunday 25 May 2025.