Big month takes its toll on Aussie teen Aiava
AUSSIE teen Destanee Aiava has been left close to tears after a straight-sets rout by former world No.5 Eugenie Bouchard in their Kooyong Classic match, saying she needs a break from tennis.
The 17-year-old had no answer to Bouchard, who posted a 6-2 6-0 victory yesterday in their Australian Open warmup in Melbourne.
Aiava has had a big month, including winning a wildcard into her second Grand Slam, but it appears to be taking a toll, with the youngster saying she needs some time out.
“This whole tennis thing is kind of getting to me,” said the world No.193. “Hopefully after the (Australian) Open I will get a break, which is what I want and what I need.”
Aiava said she’d been in good form physically but menbut, tally wasn’t where she needed to be.
“It doesn’t help when someone wants to walk on the court and get straight back off – that mental state doesn’t help,” she said. “Mentally, it’s not there hopefully, I can get there altogether by the first round.”
Canadian Bouchard has had her own mental battles, losing on Monday in the first round in Hobart to Belarusian teenager Aryna Sabalenka.
The former Wimbledon finalist’s ranking has slid to 83 after first-round exits last year in 14 tournaments.
Bouchard wasn’t aware of Aiava’s woes with it being their first meeting.
“I was happy to be out there and I was focused on myself and trying to work on things myself,” the 23-year-old said.
“I don’t want to feel any kind of continuation of 2017 because it really wasn’t a good year for me.”
In other Kooyong results, Australia’s No.2-ranked Matt Ebden continued his good form, pushing former world No.7 Frenchman Richard Gasquet before a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) loss.
THIS WHOLE TENNIS THING IS KIND OF GETTING TO ME DESTANEE AIAVA