‘They’ve said I’ve given their kids confidence to play tennis’

A Sāmoan-Australian tennis star has praised the Pacific community for their immense support over the past week after she made history as the first Pacific athlete to win a match at the Australian Open.

Aiava’s victory was met with enthusiastic cheers of “che-hoos” in the stadium, which she described as humbling.

“It was great! I’ve not heard that ever during a tennis match.” she chuckles.

“It was really fun, I embraced it and tried to use it to my advantage, especially if I was feeling down and out. I just tried to us everyones energy to help get me through the matches.

“It was definitely different. It usually is quite quiet during a tennis match whenever a point finishes. But I think tennis can use a lot more of those types of cheers.”

The 24-year-old has found herself in the spotlight after her historic Australian Open win last week.

Since the victory, her inbox has been flooded with supportive messages, including many from parents.

“It’s mainly parents of kids telling me their kids want to go to their first lesson, some have already started playing tennis, some may have felt discouraged.

“Asking their parents why does no one look like me, or why am I the only brown kid in the lesson.

“But a lot of them have just said that I’ve given their kids more confidence and inspired some to come back and play just because of my matches.

“It’s really heartwarming and it’s nice to see that my matches have had such a big impact in our community.”

The Melbourne native started playing tennis at the age of five, a path she stumbled upon after watching 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

“I started playing tennis at five. My first sport was actually soccer. My parents were the coaches of the team. They kicked me off because I wasn’t able to share the ball,” she laughs.

“I had to pick an individual sport, and I just happened to be watching tennis on the TV. The Australian Open was on, and I was watching Serena (Williams), so I just said I’ll play that sport.

“I had my first lesson, and ever since then, I haven’t stopped playing. This year will be my 20th year of playing tennis.”

Aiava celebrating at the Australian Open. Photo/Tennis Australia.

Despite a “rough” journey over her 20 years in the sport, Aiava’s first win at the Australian Open showed her that there is huge support behind her.

“From my very first lesson and growing up in tennis, I’ve not seen anyone that looks like me. Maybe one or two other girls, but that’s about it.

“After my week I had at AO, getting a lot of messages from so many people that their kids want to play tennis because someone else looks like them on TV.

“I hope they can go to their lesson, see a couple other kids who look like them and have a better experience than I had growing up and representation matters a lot.

“It does affect kids confidence and their will to want to turn up to every lesson, and I think tennis needs more of that.”