Destanee Aiava, a 24-year-old tennis sensation representing Australia, has made history as the first female tennis player of Samoan heritage to qualify for the US Open Singles main draw. Aiava’s remarkable achievement comes after a series of dominant performances in the main draw qualifying rounds in New York, where she secured straight-set victories against Gergana Topalova, fourth seed Mai Hontama, and former top-20 player Ana Konjuh.
This milestone adds another chapter to Aiava’s groundbreaking career. In 2017, at just 16 years old, she became the first player born in 2000 or later to participate in a Grand Slam tournament, making her debut at the Australian Open. She was also the youngest player of Pacific Island heritage to compete in a Grand Slam event.
Aiava’s qualification for the US Open is part of a historic achievement for Australian tennis, as five Australian women have earned main-draw berths through qualifying—a first in tournament history. It also marks the first time in 11 years that Australia has had qualifiers in both the men’s and women’s events at Flushing Meadows.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Aiava has deep Pacific Island roots. Her mother, Rosie, originally from American Samoa, played rugby for the Wallaroos, while her father, Mark, born to Samoan parents in New Zealand, was a powerlifter. Initially coached by her mother, Aiava has since teamed up with Sydney-based coach Nicole Kriz and recently got engaged to fellow tennis player Corey Gaal.
Aiava is set to make her US Open debut against Russian-born Elena Rybakina tomorrow at 3:00 am AEST.
