By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE accolades just continue to pour in for Narre Warren’s own ace of the junior international tennis scene, Destanee Aiava.
Earlier this week at the Victorian Tennis Awards she continued her winning streak to claim the Female Junior Athlete of the Year award for the third time running.
Destanee was named Female Junior Athlete of the Year at Australian Tennis’ night of nights, the Newcombe Medal, last year. Following an extended training block in 2013, she started the last calendar year off with a bang – reaching the third round of the Australian Junior Open at Melbourne Park in her first attempt at her home Grand Slam event.
Still just 15-years-old, she followed that up with another third round appearance this year.
Destanee is coached by Andrea Stoltenberg – the wife of former Australian world number 19 Jason, and herself a former WTA player.
She may seem shy and unassuming away from the court, but Destanee sure lets her power-packed game do all the talking on it.
While her incredible physical fitness is a major asset, she describes her mental strength as the biggest key.
“That side is just as strong as the physical for me,“ she told the News in an extended interview last year.
And mum Rosie agrees.
“They both go hand-in-hand – her coach changed her game to just improve the base of it and work on a few technical things like getting her timing right,” she added.
The youngster is already known for her tireless work ethic and drive to succeed.
When the News first spoke with Aiava way back in 2012, she explained that she pinned a list of goals on the fridge and ticked them off one-by-one as she accomplished them. On that list with a bullet – “Become world number one”.
Destanee has one simple reason as to why she’s able to go toe-to-toe on court with players far longer into their tennis journeys than she is, simply saying: “My game is more aggressive.”
