Destanee Aiava gearing up for extra attention as the Australian Open looms

Destanee Aiava will soon be the hottest property on the Australian sporting landscape.

Aiava is the first tennis player born after the year 2000 to win a WTA tour match, having powered past Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the Brisbane International.

And she more than held her own against two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova in the second round.

As a wildcard entrant in the Australian Open, the 16-year-old is about to become very, very popular.

But she told Sports Today she’s ready for the extra attention.

‘I’m quite excited for that, actually,’ she said.

‘It feels surreal just to be playing in the main draw of my favourite Grand Slam. I’m really looking to the challenge.’

Aiava said she learnt a lot out of the clash with Kuznetsova.

Click play for the full interview