Destanee Aiava among record number of Aussies playing at the US Open

Australian Destanee Aiava has orchestrated one of the most remarkable personal comebacks, from wanting to take her own life to qualifying for the US Open in an inspiring two years.

Two years after she planned to take her own life by throwing herself off a bridge, Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has qualified for the US Open.

In one of sport’s most remarkable turnarounds, the 24-year-old will feature at Flushing Meadows for the first time in her career, after defeating Croatian Ana Konjuh, the US Open 2016 quarterfinalist, 6-3 6-2 in just 69 minutes.

Aiava celebrated courtside with her fiancé Corey Gaal - the couple are due to be married early next year – and told Tennis Atlantic: “I am so excited, it’s even sweeter that I qualified and earned my way in.”

Destanee Aiava in action against Renata Zarazua during her singles qualifying match ahead of the Australian Open. Picture: Mark Stewart

Some may call it destiny.

With three straight sets wins in succession, Aiava will feature in the main draw of the Grand Slam event that begins Monday US time.

However, to advance beyond the opening round of the tournament, Aiava must pull off her biggest upset win against world No.4 Elena Rybakina.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan returns a shot to Leylah Fernandez at the Cincinnati Open. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Still, it is a long road from her lowest moment in 2022, which she openly wrote about on her 22nd birthday.

“The night of Easter Sunday (17th April) I was going to throw myself off a bridge onto the M1, three people drove by, dragged me off the rails and drove me home,“ Aiava wrote.

“I did not want to make it to my 22nd birthday, but I know my family and friends would be happy to know I’m alive on this day that’s meant to be special.

“Sometimes people you come across in life can make you feel that you’re unworthy of being loved, but at the end of the day I’ve learnt - ‘God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength but with your testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it’.

“Thank you for sending your love and well wishes if you have today,

“Love D.”

Destanee Aiava faces Elena Rybakina in the first round of the US Open. Picture: Getty Images

Aiava is one of a record six Australians who made the US Open through qualifying campaigns, alongside Arina Rodionova, Maya Joint, Kimberly Birrell, Priscilla Hon, and male competitor Li Tu.

In all, 20 Australians (12 men and eight women) will feature in the tournament, the most for Aussie men in 45 years, and the most for Aussie women in 35 years.

Men’s hope Thanasi Kokkinakis also faces a daunting first round clash against 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, while Tu has drawn a nightmare showdown with third-seed Carlos Alcaraz.

Alex de Minaur, the 10th seed, plays hometown hero Maroc Giron in his opening match.

Hon has an even tougher task than Aiava, drawing second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the opening round.

Alex de Minaur is Australia’s highest rated player ahead of the Open. Picture: Getty Images

US OPEN FIRST ROUND AUSTRALIAN DRAWS

Men

[10] Alex de Minaur v Marcos Giron (USA)

[28] Alexei Popyrin v Soonwoo Kwon (KOR)

Jordan Thompson v Constant Lestienne (FRA)

Rinky Hijikata v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP)

James Duckworth v [31] Flavio Cobolli (ITA)

Thanasi Kokkinakis v [11] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Chris O’Connell v [26] Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

Max Purcell v Aleksandar Vukic

Adam Walton v Alexandre Muller (FRA)

[Q] Li Tu v [3] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP)

[WC] Tristan Schoolkate v Taro Daniel (JPN)

Tennis pro Li Tu at Peake Gardens Riverside Tennis Club before his trip to Manila. Pictured on Jan 24th 2023. Picture: Ben Clark

Women

Daria Saville v [Q] Ena Shibahara (JPN)

[Q] Arina Rodionova v Wang Xinyu (CHN)

Ajla Tomljanovic v [Q] Ann Li (USA)

[Q] Maya Joint v Laura Siegemund (GER)

[WC] Taylah Preston v [25] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

[Q] Kimberly Birrell v [24] Donna Vekic (CRO)

[Q] Destanee Aiava v [4] Elena Rybakina (KAZ)

[Q] Priscilla Hon v [2] Aryna Sabalenka

Originally published as Destanee Aiava among record number of Aussies playing at the US Open