'Ash Barty effect': Aussie teen stuns tennis world with incredible win
Australian teenager Destanee Aiava has recorded the best performance of her career, beating world No.10 Aryna Sabalenka in the opening round of the Libema Open in s-Hertogenbosch.
The 19-year-old from Melbourne justified the decision of tournament officials to award her a wildcard but dumping out the second-seeded Belarusian 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-4.
Aiava's win was all the more impressive as she fought back from 3-0 down in the deciding set to set up a clash with Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the second round.
"I think it was all mental. It was a really long and tough match; I knew going into the match it was going to be a big challenge," Aiava said.
"Well that (Sabalenka's status as a top player) was playing on my mind before the match, but then going into it I just wanted to go for it and not waste the wildcard that the tournament gave me.
"So I just really wanted to take this opportunity and use it."
"I've been working so hard the past couple of weeks, months, and I just really want everything to start coming together and getting some wins on the board, especially those top 10 wins - it means a lot to me," she said.
Aiava’s win stunned tennis fans and pundits, and continued an incredible week for Aussie tennis after Ash Barty’s triumph at the French Open.
@TennisAustralia
Destanee Aiava has just beaten world #10, #2 seed & defending champ Sabalenka in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands 7-6 1-6 6-4. The Ash Barty effect, now lifting these new & gifted Oz girls. What a performance from Destanee, from a break down in 3rd set.— ecojag (@ecojag) June 11, 2019
Wow. Wild card Destanee Aiava rouses herself after going adrift in the middle of the match and comes back from 1-3 in the 3rd to beat a patchy Sabalenka and her 11 double faults, 76(3) 16 64 in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
— Ed Salmon (@fogmount) June 11, 2019
#wta Frist ever top ten win for Destanee Aiava in the Netherlands against Sabalenka. Long may her good form continue. She’s back inside the top 200.
— Shane Jones (@southendaussies) June 11, 2019
In a big week for women’s tennis in Australia, Destanee #Aiava joins the party by claiming the scalp of the 10th ranked #Sabalenka. pic.twitter.com/1JVuCODSkS
— Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) June 11, 2019
19yr Old Destanee Aiava takes down World Number 10 Ayrna Sabalenka! Brilliant performance from the Aussie youngster. Big week her could lead to a Wimbledon WC. #LibemaOpen 🇦🇺
— Jim Loton (@jim_loton) June 11, 2019
Yas!! Aiava takes out Sabalenka in the Netherlands! 76 16 64! #NailedIt #Tennis #WTA
— RacquetMouth (@RacquetMouth) June 11, 2019
Great win for Destanee Aiava at the @LibemaOpen defeating 2nd seed and world number 11 Aryna Sabalenka 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-4. #LibemaOpen #GoAussies
— Ryan 🐨 (@Ryanroxs01) June 11, 2019
Aussie men crash out
In the men's event, Australian No.5 Matt Ebden lost to France's Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4 7-5.
In-form Jordan Thompson will play his second round clash with sixth-seeded Frenchman Frances Tiafoe on Wednesday, while Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur, who was given a bye into the second round, will start his grass court campaign for 2019 against Italian veteran Andreas Seppi.
Over in Stuttgart, Nick Kyrgios, John Millman and Alexei Popyrin all suffered disappointing first-round exits in the opening round of the Mercedes Cup.
There were no histrionics from Kyrgios, but he went down to the 30th-ranked Italian Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-4 in just 53 minutes in his first hit out on grass this year.
It was Kyrgios's first outing since defaulting from the Italian Open last month after he hurled a chair on to the court following two previous code violations
Kyrgios is now likely to be up against it to secure a top-32 seeding for Wimbledon next month, the Canberran now slated to drop to No.38 in the world.
Popyrin had his chances against world No.18 and 2016 Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic, leading by a break in the final set in their first round clash.
But it wasn't to be for the former French Open junior champion, who went down 6-7 (8-6) 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
Millman struggled with unpredictable qualifier Dustin Brown, giving up a 5-2 lead in the second set.
The towering German, known best for having two wins on grass against Rafael Nadal, triumphed 6-4 7-6 (7-3).