Australian Open: Destanee Aiava wears vintage dresses as she uses qualifying as ‘fashion runway’

“I just loved what they wore,” Aiava said of Sharapova, Ivanovic and Serena Williams.

“I think some of the stuff that is being designed is quite ugly. I just like to wear what I think looks good. I don’t like wearing the same thing as everyone else.”

Aiava, who wants to pursue a degree in fashion design, will face Belgium’s Greet Minnen in the first round of the Melbourne major, which starts on Sunday.

“I didn’t really think it would make any impact at all, me wearing the dresses. But I’m glad I did. Yeah, it’s been fun bringing them back,” she added.

“I think even if you lose, it’s still kind of a fashion runway when you’re on the court.”

Despite wanting to secure a sponsorship deal with a sportswear brand, Aiava is enjoying the benefits of not currently having a sponsor.

“I am hoping to get a sponsor. I’ll probably have to put up with wearing the same thing as other people,” she said.

“But yeah, for now I’m loving picking whatever I want to wear, buying whatever I want.”