THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Ajla Tomljanovic

Press Conference

A. TOMLJANOVIC/J. Teichmann

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts about today's match?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I thought today was quite clean, especially for a first-round match. I don't know. I woke up today feeling really just excited to get out there and play.

This is such a special place, and I just, yeah, I don't know, I just couldn't wait to get out there. I was really pleased that I got a win but also in a manner that I didn't do too much wrong out there today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Jil had been in really good form, had a great run in Paris. You must have been exceptionally pleased with how you tackled her on the court today?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, I knew she's had an incredible year so far, and that kind of confidence, you can't buy it. It's just from the whole year, you can feel it. It always comes out in tight moments, so I knew that if I wanted to win today, I really had to kind of step up my game and just play the grass court tennis that I know I can.

And I did feel like maybe I had an edge a little bit, just maybe I like the surface a little bit more than she does. But again, when you are playing such a quality player, doesn't really matter. They always find a way.

Q. I think you touched on the week here, returning to Wimbledon. You said before last year you weren't necessarily sure you could produce your best on grass courts, make that run. Walking back in, good feelings coming back to a place where you have performed extremely well before?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, definitely. I have had some good tournaments in places, but I have never had this feeling like I had coming back this year. I don't know why. Maybe because it's Wimbledon and it's such a different surface, and maybe because it was my biggest run last year in my career.

Because sometimes I can still doubt and find reasons why I can't do well, but yeah, I don't know, I feel like in grass it's so important just to believe in yourself, and when you step up in the court you just have to be so determined and sure of what you are doing. I think that kind of stuck from last year.

Q. I just wanted to ask a little bit more about this Wimbledon feeling. Last year beating Ostapenko, the dramatic game, getting to play Ash in the quarterfinals, your best ever, do you still feel that? Do you still get the vibe from that?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yes and no. I mean, in tennis it's like literally the day after you have done something it's gone, it's past, people forget and you are on to the next.

But in my mind, you know, I try to just take out the positive. I remember it in a way, okay, I did that, that's always going to be a great memory for me, and I know that I can do great things on this surface and at this tournament.

But at the same time, this is a completely new year, and you can't kind of ride the wave from last year just because you have done well, you know. If you want to do well again, you have to prove it again that you can do it.

It's kind of both, but I try to take out the positive just of the belief and knowing that I can do it.

Q. After the French Open, you were really pretty crestfallen. I mean, you say you bounce back pretty quickly from these disappointments, but how long did it take you to get over that and is it easier these days?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, looking back, I wouldn't say the second round, that one stings like I have some of the other matches in the past, so it actually wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I think maybe it's just maturity of, you know, being on tour for a long time and being used to the lifestyle and knowing that taking a longer time to get over something is just going to set you back.

So I have learned to, yeah, just take it a little bit lighter and keep going, because there is always a new opportunity around the corner.

Q. Could I just ask about the Australian challengers? Very disappointing day. You are at the moment the only woman through to the second round. I think we have still got one, two to come maybe, but it's very difficult to get through any round at Wimbledon. You're the leader of the pack now. You are the No. 1. How important is it for you to be seen to be leading the pack? Do you want to be the spearhead?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, it's a nice feeling, of course, but I do love seeing other Aussies do well. As you said, any slam, it's tough to, you know, win, especially I think the matches in the beginning. I think we had a couple girls that had maybe their debut and that's never easy.

I think just getting to this stage was pretty great, and of course you want to win, but maybe they need a little more experience. But at the same time, you know, Dasha had a tough one, and I feel like we underestimate sometimes the beginnings of slams. They are actually really tough, depending on who you get in the draw, and like small things can decide a match, especially on grass.

So it's nice for me to kind of have that role sometimes, and I think at the French I wasn't the last one. Yeah, where I get to have it, I try to embrace it and keep it going as long as I can, but at the same time that's not really at the top of my priority list. I just try to do my thing and keep my head down and win as many matches as I can.

Q. You said you hadn't really looked at the draw yet. Your second round, a qualifier, what are your thoughts on that?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, it's never easy playing a qualifier that qualified and won a round. They are for sure feeling pretty great. I don't know if she ever played -- yeah, I want to say that maybe this has been the furthest she's gotten, so for sure she's having that excitement of being in the second round of a slam from quallies.

Those opponents are always dangerous. I don't think I have ever played her. I played her in doubles at the French Open, but I can see how she does well on grass, she has a pretty big game, a two-handed forehand, so I know that it's going to be -- it's going to be tricky. I have never played her, and that's never easy.

I'm honestly just -- I don't know. It feels like such a privilege to play at Wimbledon, and I'm just grateful to have another match on Thursday and maybe doubles tomorrow. I'm just taking it one day at a time.