Brisbane International: Destanee Aiava falls to Svetlana Kuznetsova

Destanee Aiava has left the Brisbane International but the memory will linger.

Destanee Aiava stretches for a backhand during her second-round match against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Destanee Aiava has left the Brisbane International but the memory will linger.

Just ask the woman who destroyed the dream run, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Two-time grand slam champion Kuznetsova started her career on the WTA tour the year Aiava was born — 2000 — and was full of praise for the young Australian.

“I said to my coach, ‘I have double age as hers’. It’s crazy. I used to be the younger one,” the 31-year-old Kuznetsova said after her 6-4 6-3 second-round win over the 16-year-old Australian.

“Both her shots, forehand and backhand, they are really intense. Her serve, she can serve really well. She has good potential.

“Very important what she’s going to be doing next years, but definitely she has lots of power and athleticism in her.”

The key break came in the third game of the second set when Kuznetsova was in full control. Her experience and patience won the day.

The Russian started to move her young opponent from side to side, waiting for the defensive shot to float higher so she could move in for the killer volley.

As Aiava’s frustration began to show, Kuznetsova wouldn’t be rushed. She took her time on the return games to fix her ponytail, towel down, while Aiava was ready to serve.

There was one final act of resistance as the Australian broke in the eighth game with the Russian serving for the match at 5-2. But then she wasted three game points on her serve and it was all over.

“I sense many things. I have been here too long not to sense anything,” Kuznetsova said of Aiava’s deteriorating body language.

“For sure, she struggled with consistency.

“I mean, that’s normal what happens to juniors when you play the same high level, what happen to me also before.”

Still Aiava leaves Brisbane with a healthy 4-1 win-loss record.

“Some confidence, maybe, in my game and myself, knowing that I do belong here,” Aiava said before returning to her Melbourne home for a training block and then the Kooyong Classic, starting on January 10.

A week later and she will be a focal point for fans at the Australian Open.

Her mother and coach Rosie Aiava is determined her daughter won’t be reading too much into her success this week.

“I have my mum to keep me grounded. She’s always telling me off if I’m getting a big head and stuff,” Destanee said with a smile.

“After today’s match she said ‘Get back out on the practice court. We’ve got a lot to work on’. She’s tough … tough, tough.”

Kuznetsova, the fifth seed in Brisbane, will take on fourth seed Garbine Muguruza, who outlasted young Russian Daria Kasat­kina 7-5 3-6 7-6 over three hours on Tuesday night.

They last met at the WTA Championships in Singapore in October with Muguruza winning in three sets.

“This match is not the same than to play Championships, but it’s still another match; it’s a great match,” Kuznetsova said.

“It’s a great match-up for the tournament and for both of us to have such a good match on the start of the year. I’m looking forward to face her.”

Second seed Dominika Cibul­kova had a brief scare against China’s world No 23 Zhang Shuai but eventually made it into the quarter-finals 2-6 6-4 6-4.

“She was playing really well, but then I started to use my weapons much more. I started to play much more aggressive on the return with my forehands, and I just didn’t let her in the game, ” Cibul­kova said.

Zhang’s hard work had consequences. She withdrew from her doubles match with partner Sam Stosur because of a tender shoulder.

So far six of the eight seeds have made it through to the women’s quarter-finals.

The semi-finals will be played tomorrow with the final on Saturday night.