After an injury-interrupted 2023, Ajla Tomljanovic is embracing a recent begin as she prepares to compete all through the Australian summer time of tennis.
Sydney, Australia, 21 December 2023 | Vivienne Christie
As she embraces a recent begin in her enjoying profession, there isn’t any place that Ajla Tomljanovic would slightly be than Australia.
The three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist has returned to Sydney to organize for the upcoming summer time of tennis, which she’ll begin as a member of Group Australia on the United Cup in Perth.
It ends a irritating interval for Tomljanovic, who was compelled to withdraw from all summer time 2023 tournaments attributable to a critical knee harm, which saved her off the tour till August.
“After I was boarding my flight to return to Sydney, I used to be simply the happiest child virtually as a result of it’s what I’ve been trying ahead to, since I’ve had surgical procedure, was simply coming again in January and enjoying freely,” she informed media at Ken Rosewall Enviornment on Wednesday.
Tomljanovic returns eeling bodily assured, after some changes to her coaching schedule. “It’s by no means going to be the identical after harm however positively there’s no ache, so it’s only a totally different strategy to my physique a bit bit.
“I simply need to handle my load however all I have to know is that after I’m on the match courtroom I can push as exhausting as I need and that’s what I can do.”
There’s additionally sound perspective for Tomljanovic, regardless of the doubts that crept in throughout her lengthy months of restoration.
“I do have to only remind myself continuously how far I’ve come this yr, as a result of there have been instances after I actually doubted a whole lot of issues,” she associated. “(However) I’m again to feeling fairly good and there’s nonetheless lots to enhance on, particularly my motion and issues however on the similar time I really feel like I can play a excessive degree with what I’ve obtained, which will get me excited.”
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That outlook is especially spectacular given the merciless timing of Tomljanovic’s knee harm.
After quarterfinal appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2022 (the place she defeated Serena Williams within the final match of the American’s profession), she was set to be seeded for the primary time at a Grand Slam at Australian Open 2023.
Having celebrated her 30th birthday in Might, Tomljanovic additionally recognised the distinction from her comeback from a serious shoulder harm that restricted her to solely two tournaments in 2016.
“After I had my shoulder factor, I used to be type of younger and also you assume you’re invincible and all the pieces will likely be effective,” she Tomljanovic.
“At this age, you’re type of extra understanding of the dangers and it’s virtually a bit bit worse, since you’re overthinking lots. However yeah, it’s scary however you’ve obtained to deal with the folks that have come from knee surgical procedures and been even higher. So yeah, simply manifest it.”
Tomljanovic has achieved so beautifully within the latter a part of 2023. After she claimed the primary match of her comeback on the US Open in August, the Australian competed at Guadalajara in September and on the Billie Jean King Cup in November.
She ended the season by claiming her first singles title in additional than 10 years at a WTA 125 event at Florianopolis, in Brazil.
> READ: Tomljanovic, Kokkinakis to play 2024 Adelaide Worldwide
It creates the proper springboard for the Australian summer time, wherein Tomljanovic is scheduled to compete on the United Cup, Adelaide Worldwide and the Australian Open.
There are solely constructive vibes for the native favorite, who is very excited to start out her season representing Australia in Perth.
“Taking part in United Cup is simply one thing I actually needed to do final yr simply ’trigger it’s a workforce occasion,” mentioned Tomljanovic, noting Australian gamers’ tendency to raise for workforce occasions.
“I believe it’s the workforce camaraderie. You possibly can’t faux that. Both it’s real or it’s not and I believe the tradition in Australian tennis actually is robust and all of us have the identical aim.
“We need to win however on the similar time, you really really feel like a workforce.”
Discover your technique to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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