Australian Open Tennis at Melbourne Park. Day 1. Mona Barthel vs. Destanee Aiava. Australias Destanee Aiava during her match. Pic: Michael Klein
AUSTRALIAN young gun Ash Barty has backed emerging Victorian talent Destanee Aiava to deliver in her first Fed Cup tie in green and gold.
Aiava, 16, was this week selected to make her debut when Australia takes on Serbia in Zrenjanin from next Saturday.
And she’s got the mettle, according to her new teammate, who admitted she wouldn’t want to be at the other end of the court to face the big-hitting teenager.
“This is a really exciting for us moving forward,” Barty said. “Destanee is a fantastic addition. She’s got some real X-factor about her and we got a bit of a taste of that during the Australian summer.
“I wouldn’t want to play her in a Fed Cup tie. She’s an amazing addition and she’ll thrive on it. She loves to play for her country.”
Destanee Aiava has been called into the Fed Cup teamSource:News Corp Australia
Barty, who was also 16-years-old when she made her Fed Cup debut almost five years ago and will celebrate her 21st birthday while in Serbia, said the pressure of the international women’s team competition is different to that of traditional tournaments.
She said she and her fellow teammates — including world No. 27 Daria Gavrilova — and captain Alicia Molik will be on hand for Aiava should she need it.
“Everyone is able to give advice,” Barty said. “She’s got all of those players who have played Fed Cup before.
Ash Barty will turn 21 while in SerbiaSource:News Corp Australia
“I know what it felt __like in my first tie. I played away in my first tie as well. Des will have a lot of support. We’re confident in her and she’ll do well no matter what.
“It’s always a challenging thing playing away from home, but that’s what it’s all about. It’s probably the biggest pressure you’ll ever face, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. They’re the best weeks of the year.”
The team has spent the last few days training in Melbourne after a lengthy block of tournaments, including in Malaysia where Barty collected her first WTA title.
“You miss that training and itching feeling to get out and get a bit better,” she said.
“There’s only so much you can do in tournament weeks when you’re trying to prepare, so it’s been nice to come back and feel sore and a bit sorry for myself in getting the work done. You certainly feel better after it.”
Australia must beat Serbia to retain its place in World Group II, with Barty relishing the do-or-die nature of the tie.
Originally published as Destanee has got the X-factor: Barty
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