Ajla Tomljanovic is taking part in her first Billie Jean King Cup tie at house because the 2019 closing – a baptism of fireplace she credit for altering the course of her profession.
Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 7 April 2025 | Matt Trollope
A lot has modified for Ajla Tomljanovic as she prepares to characterize Australia once more virtually six years after she first donned the green-and-gold.
That inaugural expertise got here within the 2019 closing in Perth, an historic event marked by sell-out crowds of virtually 15,000 followers every day at RAC Area as Australia competed in its first closing within the competitors – then referred to as Fed Cup – since 1993.
Tomljanovic misplaced 6-1 6-1 in her first singles match to France’s Kristina Mladenovic, however rebounded strongly 24 hours later to defeat Pauline Parmentier in straight units, forcing the ultimate to a dwell deciding doubles rubber.
The event formed her, setting her up for lots of the profession highs that adopted.
OFFICIAL PROGRAM: Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers (AUS-COL-KAZ)
TICKETS: Get tickets to the Billie Jean King Cup through Ticketmaster
“That was a loopy turning level in my entire profession,” Tomljanovic mentioned on Monday, a day after arriving in Brisbane for this week’s Billie Jean Cup Qualifiers spherical in opposition to Colombia and Kazakhstan.
“I don’t assume I’ve confronted a extra nerve-wracking second in my life because the one in Perth. So it actually put every thing in perspective, and I felt like something that may come my means after that will probably be a chunk of cake.
“And to this point I’ve been proper. Regardless that each week representing Australia is basically tense in a great way, it’s very totally different from each different week that we simply characterize ourselves.
“Typically it does overcrowd you, however I believe with our crew, you by no means actually really feel all of it the best way as a result of we’re all trustworthy with one another and you are feeling the assist.”
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Within the intervening years Tomljanovic went on to succeed in three Grand Slam quarterfinals – back-to-back at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022, and the US Open in 2022 – and rise to a peak rating of world No.32 in early 2023.
However simply because it did in 2016, critical harm derailed her once more in 2023, this time a knee harm protecting her out of the majority of the 12 months. Surgical procedure to take away uterine fibroids saved her off tour for 3 extra months in early 2024.
Ranked outdoors the highest 200 when she returned in Might final 12 months, Tomljanovic has steadily reclaimed kind and momentum and risen to world No.79, making her one in all 5 Australian girls inside the highest 100.
The 31-year-old considers this stage of her profession as “3.0” and is having fun with the problem of attempting to scale the heights she beforehand attained.
“I form of prefer it, as a result of I do know that I’m succesful tennis-wise, however there’s much more that goes into it, which is my physique, my thoughts, and altogether I believe tennis has modified a bit as effectively – it’s gone ahead, so that you’re form of taking part in catch-up as effectively,” she defined.
“However these days I’ve been embracing it much more, and I’m excited to form of preserve going.”
TIE INFORMATION: Australia – Colombia – Kazakhstan
After a fruitful stint in the USA, the place she reached the third spherical in Charleston final week and the semifinals in Austin a couple of tournaments earlier than that, Tomljanovic returns to Australia in search of extra consistency.
The important thing to that might be unlocked in Brisbane, the place if chosen for aggressive duties she’s going to stroll into one in all her favorite tennis venues.
“I’ve had a couple of wins on Pat Rafter Area, so it’s one in all my favorite cosy arenas,” she mentioned.
“I really feel actually good. It’s been up and down [in 2025] however total I really feel like I’ve steadily been going up.
“Simply to return right here, I really feel like this [Billie Jean King Cup] is all the time per week that offers me confidence, simply because I’m round a crew I’m actually aware of and all of us push one another, and if we come out with an ideal end result, it actually form of units you up for an excellent higher 12 months.
“So I’m actually having an excellent feeling.”
Australia faces Kazakhstan on 10 April and Colombia on 12 April at Pat Rafter Area. Get your tickets through Ticketmaster and observe the motion on 9Gem and 9Now.
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