Aussie favorite Ajla Tomljanovic is feeling assured forward of her Australian Open return.
Melbourne, Australia, 15 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers
At world No.271, Ajla Tomljanovic is without doubt one of the lowest-ranked contenders on this yr’s Australian Open girls’s singles draw.
It’s an unfamiliar place for the 30-year-old, who final summer season was the host nation’s top-ranked participant. But Tomljanovic is unfazed.
“I really feel proud of the place I’m at,” mentioned Tomljanovic, who used a protected rating of world No.33 to enter the event.
“I feel I’m at all times harmful in these phases of the event. I nonetheless really feel like folks don’t need to play me, particularly within the early rounds.”
After a knee damage derailed her 2023 season, Tomljanovic is happy to check herself in opposition to the world’s greatest as soon as once more.
“It’s form of like, in a manner, a brand new chapter,” she acknowledged.
There are, understandably, some nerves too.
“I’d be mendacity if I’m sitting right here and being like, ‘That is the perfect I’ve ever felt’, as a result of that’s not additionally life like,” Tomljanovic advised media forward of her ninth Australian Open main-draw marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, the three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist appreciates the teachings gained from final yr’s bodily challenges.
“I feel, with out realising, it in all probability did make me stronger simply emotionally, since you don’t rehab your self again in case you’re not cussed about getting again,” she defined.
“I imply, there’s loads of examples when athletes don’t get again the place they imagine they’ll get to, or they’ve much less luck than me. That’s why I do really feel fortunate that my knee responded to every part we’ve completed for it.
“There’s a number of resilience that came about in 2023. It, for certain, will repay.”
There are already promising indicators that Tomljanovic can shortly climb again up the rankings.
She received her largest profession title, at a WTA 125 occasion in Brazil, late final yr and helped Australia progress to the latest United Cup semifinals.
With six wins from her previous 9 matches, this offers constructive momentum forward of a first-round showdown with world No.40 Petra Martic at Melbourne Park.
The 32-year-old Croatian has received two of their three earlier conferences, together with an Australian Open qualifying conflict in Tomljanovic’s event debut 13 years in the past.
Tomljanovic did, nevertheless, win their most up-to-date battle on the US Open in 2021.
“I really feel like I do know her recreation fairly properly and he or she is aware of mine,” Tomljanovic mentioned. “We form of grew up collectively really. She used to play with my sister, so we go manner again.”
The heartbreak of withdrawing from final yr’s Australian Open is much from forgotten both, offering added motivation.
“I’ve had flashbacks from final yr. That was not enjoyable,” Tomljanovic admitted.
“(However) I’m actually excited, I really feel good and able to go.”
Tomljanovic begins her Australian Open 2024 marketing campaign this night.
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