MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Umabot lamang ng 92 minuto ang kampanya ng 16-anyos na si Destanee Aiava sa Australian Open.
Gayunman, ang kaganapan ay isang kasaysayan sa tennis.
Ang Australian high school student ang kauna-unahang player na ipinanganak sa taong 2000 na nakapaglaro sa main draw ng Grand Slam tournament.
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At sa kabila ng 6-3, 7-6 (4) kabiguan kay Mona Barthel, tiyak na umani ng karanasan ang batang si Aiava na nakatanggap din ng payo at tip mula sa mga idolo tulad ni Serena Williams.
“This isn’t the first and the last time I’m going to be here,” pahayag ni Aiava. “There’s plenty more to come.”
Bago ang torneo, nakaensayo niya si Williams, ang 22-time Grand Slam champion at inspiration ni Aiava.
Sa murang edad na lima, sinabiniya sa kanyang ina na magiging career niya ang tennis matapos mapanood at mapahanga kay Williams sa TV.
“She told me to dream big and you’ll achieve big,” pahayag ni Aiava, patungkol sa naging huntahan nila ni Williams.
“She’s quite a nice person. It was a really good experience to get to hit with her.”
Dinumog ng home-crowd ang laro ni Aiava sa Court 2 ng Melbourne Park.
“It was pretty fun playing out there with all the crowd supporting me,” aniya.
“Nothing really surprised me. I think I learned how to be more composed out there, and I didn’t rush as much.
Obviously it wasn’t my day, but I’m looking forward to the rest of the year and what’s out there for me.”
Sa kabila ng kabiguan, natanggap niya ang pinakamalaking prize money sa batang career na US$37,500 bilang first-round loser.
“I don’t like to focus on that, or gloat,” sambit ni Aiava.
