The last Australian woman to fall at Melbourne Park, comeback kid Destanee Aiava believes she’s shown she belongs at the top level of international tennis after going toe-to-toe with world number 11 Danielle Collins.
There are now no more Australians in the women’s draw heading into the third round after Aiava fell heartbreakingly short of her best ever victory but won plenty of admirers in a gutsy three-set loss on Thursday to former finalist Collins.
Two days after notching her first main-draw win at a major via a dramatic comeback, qualifier Aiava again showed her resilience, forcing Collins to a deciding set before losing 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 6-2.
“I showed myself this week that I do belong here,” Aiava, ranked No.195, said. “I’ve known it for quite a while. But actually putting it into action and doing it is completely different. I think I did that this week.
“Hopefully the rest of the year goes similar. If not, that’s okay, too. At least I’ve had a really good week here. That’s all that matters.”
Former junior prodigy Aiava will play doubles while pondering her next moves on tour. Aaiva has played with Diggers Rest in the Tennis Victoria state league competition the past two years.
Collins wasn’t surprised by the “very talented” Samoan Australian’s efforts.
“I remember seeing her a couple of years ago, always thinking that she would end up making a good run and having a great career,” she said.
American 10th seed Collins, runner-up to Ash Barty in 2022, was seething throughout as a parochial crowd cheered her errors and double faults – at one point yelling, “Shut up”.
Once the match was done, the fiery American was happy to play up to her public enemy No.1 role.
In celebration, she cupped her hand to her ear and yelled, “How about that?”
She then blew kisses to the jeering and booing crowd, before slapping her backside.
“You know, I was thinking during the match,” she said in her on-court interview. “I was like, if I’m out there, I might as well take that big fat pay cheque.
“(Coach) Coco Vandeweghe and I love taking a holiday, so part of that cheque is going to go towards that. Thanks for that guys.”
Aiava, wearing a replica of Maria Sharapova’s 2011 French Open dress, took the first set to a tiebreak, which the American won.
Aiava broke Collins in the first game of the second set, then earned a double break and the opportunity to serve for the set.
Collins called for the trainer before receiving treatment on her right foot and taking a medical time-out.
When play resumed, Aiava took five set points across three games to claim the set.
In the decider, Collins pounced when leading 3-2, breaking the Australian to claim the ascendancy.
Collins earned two match points on Aiava’s serve when leading 5-2 and claimed the second to tee up a third-round clash with countrywoman and No.19 seed Madison Keys.
