
“I think it's more my mentality. It's really me getting out of my own way and actually not shying away from wanting to succeed in this sport.”
— Destanee Aiava, 9 Jan 2025
» Aiava, Birrell punch their tickets to AO main draw
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
Ranking Movers: Top 150 returns on Hon’s horizon

25 February, 2025
Priscilla Hon is nearing the top 150 in both singles and doubles action after a successful week at the ITF W75 tournament in Prague.
Read morePriscilla Hon is nearing the top 150 in both singles and doubles action after a successful week at the ITF W75 tournament in Prague.
Aussie weekly wrap: Saville, Joint book Merida main draw berths

24 February, 2025
Daria Saville and Maya Joint have found form in Mexico, while Jason Kubler has collected a title in Tasmania.
Read moreDaria Saville and Maya Joint have found form in Mexico, while Jason Kubler has collected a title in Tasmania.
Pro Tour: Schoolkate, Hon maintain strong 2025 form in Brisbane

3 February, 2025
Tristan Schoolkate and Priscilla Hon have won their first titles of the 2025 season after claiming honours at the Queensland International this week.
Read moreTristan Schoolkate and Priscilla Hon have won their first titles of the 2025 season after claiming honours at the Queensland International this week.
Ranking Movers: Aiava, Birrell move up after Aussie summer success

28 January, 2025
Destanee Aiava, Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki enjoyed rankings spikes in various categories after career-best Grand Slam runs at Australian Open 2025.
Read moreDestanee Aiava, Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki enjoyed rankings spikes in various categories after career-best Grand Slam runs at Australian Open 2025.