The qualifier using the Australian Open as 'fashion runway'

"Look good, feel good."

It's a mantra that has rung true for Destanee Aiava in Australian Open qualifying this week.

Aiava has been using the courts in Melbourne as her "fashion runway", wearing vintage dresses made famous by Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic.

The 24-year-old Australian has been buying replicas of the outfits once worn by the two former Grand Slam champions online.

And on Thursday, while sporting the same pink Adidas dress Ivanovic wore at the 2010 US Open, Aiava won her final qualifying match.

Her 6-1 2-6 6-4 win over 23rd seed Eva Lys means she will play in the main draw of her home major for the first time since 2021.

Asked whether she had picked an outfit for her first-round match, Aiava said: "I found one on Facebook yesterday before my match. I might go pick that up. It's only $35, which is a steal."

Earlier in qualifying, the world number 195 wore the same light pink Nike dress that Sharapova wore when she reached the US Open semi-finals in 2012.

"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, for now I'm loving picking whatever I want to wear and buying whatever I want."