Samoan 'Serena Williams' - Destanee Aiava wins her first pro title
Destanee Aiava is only 16 years old and shaping up to be the first Samoan Tennis Super star! Here are a few things that she’s aced already…
- February 2017 as in last week… Destanee won her first ITF women's title of her career, snatching the $25,000 prize in Perth by defeating Viktoria Kuzmova in the final, 6–1 6–1. Aiava stole the show! She served well, facing only one break point, and she broke her rival 5 times from 14 chances, more than enough for a nice and easy triumph and another milestone in her already incredible career.
Destanee's wins in Perth:
R1 vs Jing-Jing Lu 6-3 6-3 [1:35]
R2 vs Georgia Brescia 6-2 6-4 [1:34]
QF vs Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 7-6(3) [1:54]
SF vs Priscilla Hon 6-7(5) 7-6(1) 6-1 [2:01]
F vs Viktoria Kuzmova 6-1 6-1 [57]
- Miss Aiava stunned herself I think, when she secured the wildcard spot to play in her very first Australian Open 2017 that her Tennis idol Serena Williams went on to win!
- Destanee is the FIRST player/person/human/anyone born in the 2000s to win a WTA match. Does that make you feel old?
- At the wee age of 12 Aiava won the Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament and won the right to play alongside Steffi Graf in an exhibition match!
- In 2014, she won the Tecnifibre Tennis Central Championships and NZ ITF Summer Championships in New Zealand as well as Australian International's in Queensland and Victoria. At the age of 14, she won the U18 Canadian World Ranking Event in Montreal, Canada.
Needless to say, she didn't just come here to play, Destanee Aiava has come to SLAY!!
As a result of witnessing Serena Williams win the 2005 Australian Open Destanee turned to her parents "I was, like, 'I want to become No. 1 in the world'," she said.
"And they're like 'Oh, tennis? Oh, we didn't know anything about tennis'."
So Destanee’s mum, American-Samoan born Rosie, who knew next to nothing about tennis but is surely the reason Destanee is a passionate All Black’s fan with her skills in playing rugby and kickboxing, dedicated herself to learn the game of tennis and train her daughter who would soon become a star under her guidance.
Aiava’s Samoan dad Mark, is undoubtedly on the training squad also, bringing his skill in the martial arts adding to her unconventional training methods like MMA cross-training and wearing tracksuits in summer to acclimatise for the heat on court.
Boasting a big serve and the freshest forehand, Melbourne born Destanee Aiava has been one of the biggest prospects in women's tennis since she took to the baseline in U12 events, showing a massive amount of talent and determination to become the best player in the world one day, just like she said.
Aiava will continue her Pro Tour journey as she makes her way to South Australia for the Clare Valley Tennis International.
So watch this space, as big things are to come for this Samoan slammer!