The second day of this year’s Australian Open offered plenty of drama: four players managed to overcome match point deficits and win exciting first round games. The evening culminated at Court 3, where home favorite Destanee Aiava defeated Greet Minnen 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(5) in a marathon three-hour battle. Trailing 5-4 in the final set, Aiava saved two match points before completing her remarkable comeback.

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The result was also a first Grand Slam main draw victory at the sixth attempt for the 24-year-old Aiava, who entered the first five games as a wildcard before qualifying for the first time at the US Open last year. The Australian is now on a nine-match winning streak after capping her 2024 season with the Brisbane ITF W50 title – and the most important aspect of her breakthrough could be practical.

“I“It means I can bring someone to travel with this year and I can afford to actually go to all the tournaments I want,” Aiava said afterwards. “It really helps.” Financially, tennis is so expensive. I find it difficult to travel alone. The fact that I can bring my fiancé (ATP pro Corey Gaal) and hopefully one of my family members to the big games makes a big difference.”

Photos: All winners of 2025 from match point

Aiava, who also trailed Minnen 5-2 in the second set, attributed her comeback to both her own confidence and the crowd’s support.

“I believed I could win before I stepped on the court,” she said. “I just felt like I didn’t do my best. In the first set I got a bit negative point that I win then I have to do everything to come back. In the end it was 5:5. I just heard the crowd getting louder.

“They gave me the energy I needed to get through the game, especially when I was on the ground and had match points against me.”

Aiava saved her first match point with an unreturned serve and her second by ending a 13-shot rally with a powerful forehand winner.

Aiava, known for her vintage outfits sourced online during qualifying, debuted a new look: a blue and black dress originally worn by Caroline Wozniacki in 2013.

The other winners from day 2 from match point

Moyuka Uchijimawho prevailed against Magda Linette 4:6, 6:2, 7:6(8) in 2 hours and 13 minutes, her first win in four encounters with the Pole, her third top 50 victory in her career and Melbourne achieved their first win in the main draw. Linette had a match point at 5:3 in the third set, but committed a double fault.

Harriet Dartwho only found out she would be playing an hour before her appearance on the field. The Brit was given a lucky loser spot after Marketa Vondrousova withdrew and went on to defeat qualifier Jana Fett 7-5, 2-6, 7-6(7). Dart saved two match points as Fett served 6-5 in the third set. She delivered a spectacular defense the first time around before Fett netted a forehand. The second time, Fett double-faulted – the start of a nine-point run for Dart that gave them a 6-0 lead in the super tiebreak.

Afterwards, Dart said that although she had not been able to prepare as usual with a complete game cancellation due to the short notice, it had not been a complete surprise.

““I had already practiced, so I knew there might be (a lucky loser spot),” she said. “You see what a few people are like and you kind of keep an eye on certain things. (But) until someone actually backs off, it’s pretty hard to stay in the zone.”

Elise Mertens qualifier Viktorija Golubic ended the 15-game winning streak with a top-class 4:6, 7:6(8), 6:4 victory. The Belgian, a finalist in Hobart last week, had a double match point in the second set tiebreak. She saved the first with an efficient double strike and the second when Golubic sent an inch-long backhand to end a thrilling 19-shot rally.