Australian Tennis Players Share Their Pre- and Post-Match Beauty Rituals
January 21 | 5 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
Until surprisingly recently, the public perceptions of sport and beauty seemed to be at odds. For women in particular, being seen as a serious, disciplined competitor often meant abstaining from ‘frivolities’ like glamorous makeup or a multi-step skincare routine.
But the tides are turning. With more eyes than ever on women’s sport, a new generation are working to challenge these stereotypes, proving the evolving relationship between beauty and athleticism is more important than ever.
Australian tennis stars Ajla Tomljanović and Destanee Aiava are perfect examples. With an emphasis on self-empowerment, confidence and preparation, both players use beauty as a tool to keep them performing at their best. Like a recovery ice bath or a carefully balanced pre-match meal, Ajla and Destanee turn to beauty rituals to help them warm up, cool down and get in the zone.
With the Australian Open in full swing, we chatted to the pair about the pre- and post-match beauty rituals they can’t play without.
Ajla Tomljanović
On Her Match-Day Routine
Before she hits the court, Ajla always starts by cleansing her skin, putting on all her jewellery and layering a toner and moisturiser to “keep everything glowy and fresh.” But the most important part? “Sunscreen."
On Her Relationship With Beauty
“My relationship with beauty has evolved a lot over the course of my career. Early on, beauty felt more like something external – how I looked, how I was perceived and whether I fit a certain standard,” Ajla says. “As I grew professionally and personally, I began to see beauty as something much more functional and empowering. It became about confidence, self-care, and using beauty as a tool to feel grounded and prepared, especially in high-pressure environments. Now, beauty is less about perfection and more about authenticity, recovery and expressing who I am at different stages of my life and career.”
On Her Non-Negotiables
“I never skip sunscreen in my skincare routine; that’s my number one non-negotiable. I’m also very protective about my hair. I always make sure I don’t tie my hair too tight and apply leave-in conditioner with SPF to protect and nourish [my] strands. I also make sure I’m always hydrated which helps my skin, hair and overall health and performance on court.”
On Her Wind-Down Ritual
After her matches, Ajla double cleanses to wash away sweat, oil and dirt, before applying her skincare routine. “I like to add some lip balm and eye gel to fight dryness and fatigue. I also add a hair mask for some extra TLC... followed by some oil for my ends. I’m usually in pretty warm places, so I like to let my hair naturally air dry. On hot days, I’ll go into the ice bath to recover my muscles and joints (I stay in for about 10 minutes).”
On Match-Ready Makeup
“A beauty ritual that always gives me a little extra confidence is adding a lip tint that’s slightly darker than my lip colour and applying concealer on my dark spots. It makes me feel feminine and sporty at the same time.”
Destanee Aiava
On Her Tournament Warm-Up
“During tournaments, I’m very routine-based. I try to eat the same breakfast every morning – usually eggs, toast and fruit,” Destanee tells The MECCA Memo. “I like to arrive at the courts early so I can get my bearings and fit in a proper warm-up without feeling rushed. One absolute non-negotiable for me is listening to music before I head out – it helps calm my nerves and keeps me grounded.”
On Her Latest Obsession
Recently, Destanee has loved exploring red and blue-light therapy for smooth, even skin. “I use my Dr. Dennis Gross SpectraLite™ LED mask every night before bed. In the mornings, I love doing ice bowls to depuff my face – it instantly makes me feel refreshed and more put together.”
On Her Beauty Evolution
“My relationship with beauty has evolved so much over the years; when I was younger, I didn’t really understand skincare or makeup at all,” Destanee explains. “It wasn’t until I started struggling with my skin that I began learning. What started as necessity became something I genuinely love. Beauty became a big part of my life off court, and that confidence naturally translated on court. I truly believe when a woman feels confident in herself, that’s when she performs at her best.”
On the Importance of SPF
As a self-professed "SPF obsessive,” Destanee wears sunscreen religiously – even when it’s overcast, adding, “I’ve also become really conscious about protecting my hair from the sun. I always use a heat protectant before playing because I’ve learnt heat damage doesn’t just come from styling tools – the sun can be just as harsh.”
On Keeping Her Skincare Simple
Post-match, Destanee goes straight in with clarifying cleanser to remove sweat and sunscreen, followed by a few high-performance essentials: “[I am for] lots of hydration with a good moisturiser, nothing too heavy, and a nourishing lip balm just to let my skin reset and recover.”
Not to toot our own horn (or string our own racket), but at MECCA, we’ve long believed that beauty contains multitudes. It’s why we’re proud to be the Official Beauty Partner of the Australian Open this year, with MECCA COSMETICA stepping up to the net as the AO’s Official SPF. On the ground at Melbourne Park, you’ll find all your courtside beauty essentials at our three-storey MECCA Pro Shop, plus easy sun-protection top-ups at the MECCA COSMETICA SPF Studio – or one of our four on-the-go SPF Huts. For more information, head here.