World No.195 Destanee Aiava has shared an honest assessment of her experience with Team Australia at the United Cup, describing it as "weird" and "hostile".
The 24-year-old arrived at the team event as the No.2 singles player behind Olivia Gadecki, with captain Lleyton Hewitt opting for the latter in both Group F matches.
Gadecki failed to claim a set as she lost two matches in straight-sets against Argentina's Nadia Podoroska and Great Britain's Katie Boulter.
According to Aiava, the team environment off-court was far from pleasant.
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Posting on Instagram, the former world No.147 shared seven photos of her United Cup involvement with a short message. "Very unique experience this week," she wrote. "Even though I didn't get to play, still a lot of things learnt, like how the word 'team' has many different meanings. Onto the next week now!!"
Below Aiava's message, she notified her followers about a link in her bio containing a YouTube VLOG detailing her United Cup experience in a 28-minute and 39-second video.
Before Australia's group stage elimination, Aiava confessed: "So far, I’ve had a good time at the event itself. Regarding our team, it’s not felt so welcoming."
After the USA's win over Poland in the United Cup final last night, world No.4 Taylor Fritz and 2023 US Open winner Coco Gauff were quick to highlight the close team bond throughout the tournament.
"I want to say thanks to my whole team. Unbelievable support. The team vibes all week are amazing. I think that's one of the things that makes our team so great, and one of the reasons why we've been able to do so well is we really come together as a team," Fritz said.
Gauff added: "This is my first United Cup and I've had so much fun. This is exactly what I wanted, just to have fun on the court."
For Aiava, it was the complete opposite, using quotation mark signs with her hands when mentioning the word 'team'.
"I understand that we’re in a competitive environment, but I thought being in a team, playing a team event, it would feel a bit different," she said.
"It’s not team-based at all, we pretty much just do whatever we want by ourselves. Then, when everyone has to play, that’s when we all come together as a ‘team'.
"There’s been, at most, two people that I’ve actually properly conversed with on the team, maybe three."
In the video, Aiava jokingly said: "I don’t want to say anything that will get me cancelled. I probably will though."
Requiring a victory against the Brits in the mixed doubles by conceding no more than four games or losing 7-5 6-0 to progress, the Aussies made a shock decision by selecting Gadecki and Alex de Minaur instead of doubles specialists Matthew Ebden and Ellen Perez.
Having prior knowledge that she wasn't going to participate in the tie, Aiava could only control the controllable.
"I’m just going to go train again today because that’s all I’m good for this week," she said.
Last year, the Melbourne-born talent entered Auckland's ASB Classic where she suffered defeat in the first-round of qualifying before commencing her Australian Open qualifying campaign.
This time, Aiava will not have played a match since November 17, when she clinched an ITF title against compatriot Lizette Cabrera ahead of her Australian Open first-round qualifying test against No.10 seed Ana Bogdan.
"This week wasn’t the best prep for AO," Aiava admitted once the tournament concluded.
"In fact, it could have been the worst prep I’ve ever had match-wise. So it’s fair to say that I won’t be ever entering United Cup ever again, unless I’m the No.1 player because then I’ll be guaranteed a match, but I guess that’s my fault."
"I would say everything else was good, besides the actual team camaraderie.
"Would I recommend other people to play it? If you’re the No.1 person on your team, go for it. If not, run for your life."
Aiava rated her time at the event a "two out of 10" amid a "poor culture" amongst the playing group.
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