Much like returning reluctantly to the economy cabin after having somehow snaffled a rare seat in business class, Destanee Aiava has a term for what comes straight after a Grand Slam.
"I always describe it as like a 'come down'," says Aiava of the time when the spotlight dims and hospitality and hotel star ratings dwindle, as the game's lesser names return to the far more blue-collar and unglamorous lower-tier events.
"It happens every single time there's a Slam; you always go back to ITFs or whatever your ranking can get you into," she continues.
"But those are the tournaments that we have to play and grind through to get to these ones, which I've learned to embrace and just enjoy the process and the grind."
Click here to watch live tennis on Stan Sport.
The financial buffer provided by A$223,625 in pre-tax prize money for reaching the second-round of Australian Open singles as a qualifier (A$200,000) and as a wildcard recipient into the doubles with Maddy Inglis (A$20,000) and mixed with Omar Jasika (A$3625) will help with the adjustment this time, though.
Actually, it will help a lot.
"Yeah, it's great," Aiava smiles. "I would love to have won my (second) singles to make it more, but I can only be grateful. It’s definitely a massive help to my career, and I'm really looking forward to making the most of it and investing in my tennis."
A little of that welcome windfall will go towards reducing the mortgage on Aiava’s south-east Melbourne home, some will be set aside for her late-2026 wedding to Corey Gaal, and there may also be room for a small splurge.
But, principally, it means the couple can afford for Gaal, an ITF-level player ranked 1277th, to now accompany his fiancée on the circuit full-time.
"For me, it’s just knowing that I have a piece of home with me," Aiava told The First Serve, after a headline-grabbing Australian Open in which she won her first Grand Slam singles match, anywhere, a decade after her first main draw attempt.
"I get really homesick and I just love seeing my family every day, and I obviously miss Corey when I'm not with him, so yeah, it's gonna be so much better.
"He can help me with so many things like booking my (practice) courts when I can't be bothered or helping me stretch and recover, and if I can't find a hit, he'll be able to hit with me as well, It's just all the little things that makes a difference."
What a big week or two it was, starting with qualifying for the first time at her home major, and thus backing up from the breakthrough main draw equivalent at last year’s US Open following 10 unsuccessful attempts at the three overseas majors combined.
Then came that opening win against Belgian Greet Minnen from a set and 2-5 and third set match point down, which was a career-high point after years of well-documented mental health and other struggles for the former junior prodigy who continues to manage Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosed in 2023.
And then, well, two words: Danielle Collins.
"The stuff that happened after, I think it did kind of overshadow what I've done this week, but at the same time, she's top-10 in the world and I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else.
"But she was really nice to me."
All the while, the strong baseliner was proving popular for another reason: her array of vintage tennis outfits bought - at not inconsiderable expense - online to channel her inner Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanović, Maria Sharapova, et al. Publications such as Vogue Magazine and the Australian Women’s Weekly were among those to embrace the story.
"I love my fashion so much and I’m just lucky that (journalist) Ben Rothenberg picked it up in my first qualies match," Aiava says.
"I wasn’t expecting anyone to really care; it was really unintentional for it to go viral. But I've been really enjoying it and bringing a different dress for each match was so fun. But I think that'll be the end of it because it's really expensive."
The plan, therefore, is to revert to wearing "stuff that I already have", for pro tennis is an expensive business, and Aiava’s only commercial deal involves free racquets from Wilson.
So have there been any new nibbles from sponsors after all this exposure for the current world No.195?
"Not really… maybe! I mean, I'm in talks with a couple of management companies, so that’s for them to help me out with," she says. "But yeah, I've had (second-hand clothing websites) Depop and eBay reach out, which has been really nice."
Reached out because? "They’ve said they’ve loved my sustainability!"
Also notable has been the 24-year-old’s continued willingness to spar with the social media nasties, while engaging regularly with the nice, having also posted a lengthy YouTube critique of her unhappy United Cup experience in Sydney.
Aiava denies suggestions there was any scolding from Tennis Australia over her criticism of the claimed "pretty poor" Australian team culture and advice that participants who are not the top-ranked singles player should "run for your life" if selected in the future.
"Um, no, not at all. I spoke to someone just to give feedback on what they could maybe improve on for next year's experience, which I think was really helpful."
More broadly, someone who says she has always been "the type to speak my mind" acknowledges the need to find the balance between being forthright and causing unintended offence.
"I just like to be myself and share my life," she says, having last week called for less invasive drug testing and taken a swing at the ubiquitous body-shaming trolls.
"I post stuff on social media because I enjoy it," she says. "It’s not to have a crack at anyone, but if I'm getting hate comments, then I will - I will crack on."
As to whether the AO doubles and mixed wildcards are a sign she might be back in the TA tent, Aiava hesitates to assign a deeper meaning than pure performance to handouts that she emphasises were much appreciated.
More surprising was the amount of support her Australian Open efforts received - from inside the locker-room and beyond.
"That's the main thing. I didn't really expect so many messages and love and new followers, I guess, on my socials, so it’s a new thing for me to navigate."
A Saturday night dinner with family and friends drew the curtain on her 2025 Melbourne Park experience, followed by a post on X that "I won’t be leaving my room for a week unless it’s to go (the) bathroom or bake cookies".
Next, a breather to reset before Aiava — who confessed to being so broke in mid-2023 that she was on the verge of retirement and sought donations for vet treatment for one of her precious cats in 2024 — goes again.
Having originally planned to play the forthcoming Brisbane ITFs (see "come down", above), Aiava is now not so sure, but does know that her focus will be on backing up match after match; playing at the same level even on days when she feels below her best.
Set for a rankings rise into the 170s, having peaked at No.147 way back in 2017, the 24-year-old has proved to herself that she can compete at the highest level, which is where a player who recently confessed to feeling "tired of being mediocre and being an underachiever" now feels she belongs.
"I'm just really excited for the rest of the year," Aaiva says, her sights next on Roland Garros qualifying, despite clay being her least favourite surface.
"It's been the best AO so far. I've just had so much fun. I'll remember this one forever. Hopefully there's a lot more AOs to come — and better ones as well."
Experience the perfect blend of passion and performance at Racquet World, the ultimate destination for tennis enthusiasts throughout Australia. Explore their extensive selection of Tennis, Padel, and Pickleball gear. For all First Serve listeners by entering the code TFS2025 you will receive 15% off the RRP on all non-sale items at their online store - www.racquetworld.com.au
Comments