Destanee Aiava’s path again to the Australian Open after a collection of psychological well being battles has taken a constructive step ahead with victory within the opening spherical of qualifying.
Given a wildcard into qualifying, Aiava, the world No.325, mentioned she was protecting her expectations measured as she appeared to earn a main-draw spot this week.
The 22-year-old, who opened up on her psychological well being struggles throughout 2022, which included an try to finish her life, carved out a 6-3 6-3 victory towards Turkey’s Ipek Oz in first-round motion at Melbourne Park on Monday.
“I’m so pleased. It’s my first grand slam match for some time and I’m simply pleased to get the win,” Aiava advised Tennis Australia after defeating the world No.180.
“I didn’t put an excessive amount of expectation on myself. I simply needed to exit and implement what I’ve been doing in coaching.”
Aiava, who has been ranked as excessive as world No.147, is beginning to string collectively some stable kind after her off-court points.
She has gained eight of her previous 9 matches, together with an Australian Professional Tour title at Traralgon in November, her first in additional than three years.
Now ranked 325, she was grateful to be given the prospect to attempt to earn a spot in the primary draw of the 12 months’s first grand slam.
“I’m simply trying to have enjoyable this week,” she mentioned.
“That is my favorite event of the 12 months and I’m simply tremendous grateful to Tennis Australia for giving me an opportunity to compete within the qualifying.
“I’m positively coming into this (week) with a little bit of confidence from my final tournaments.
“I’ve been coaching heaps and taking part in some AMT doubles with a buddy as effectively simply to maintain my match health going. So yeah, I’m feeling good.”
Aiava will face world No.237 Arianne Hartono, a 26-year-old from the Netherlands, within the second spherical.
