BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

November 8, 2022

Ajla Tomljanovic

Team Australia

Emirates Arena

Press Conference

A. TOMLJANOVIC/A. Schmiedlova

6-1, 6-2

Team Australia - 2

Team Slovakia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congrats on the win and the win for Australia as well. Two sets with quite similar scorelines. Maybe quite a different feel to each of them. Could you just talk through your performance and the match and what you felt like you did well today?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, I think starting out is always tricky. There's always a bit of nerves involved. I thought after getting that break I kind of ran with that first set, even though every game was pretty tough, like, it wasn't straightforward, like, 1 and 2.

It was intense, and I lost my focus a little bit when I was up 3-Love. But at the same time, I thought her level was high for the scoreline. I just think I played the bigger points a little bit better.

Q. Storm was in here saying that this event is such a priority for her and the team, and I think you said on court that it's the best week of the year. Can you explain why it matters so much and why it's so great?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: I think because we have such a good team spirit. In our country, you know, we love sport. We love camaraderie, team events. I think a lot of our players thrive in this environment.

That kind of makes you want it even more when you're part of a squad like that. So for me, you know, when I played in Perth for the first time, it kind of opened my eyes that I never thought, you know, that these weeks would mean so much to me.

So I credit it to the tour squad and, yeah, just the whole country.

Q. On a personal level for you, this second half of the season you have won so many matches, I think 22 of your last 31 now. What's clicked?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: A lot of things. But mostly, if I have to put it to one thing, it's just where my head's at in my life. I think that translates to the court.

I'm happy. Tennis is fun again. Even when I'm losing, I'm finding joy, which is really all it's ever been and it's supposed to be. I lost it a little bit there for, you know, a year or so.

But it happens. It's okay. We love what we do, but tough times come and that's okay, but I figured it out. They might come again, and it's just about day in and out trying to be curious about what the problems are getting better.

Q. What has it been like having the Netflix cameras following you around? Has the experience been as you expected it would be?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, I had a big think about it when it came up. I think this kind of stuff only works if you're really honest and you are yourself 100%. That's why I really had to think about it, because I feel like I did let the cameras in a lot. So I guess we'll see.

I had fun with it, because I think it's fun for the people to see that it's not just sunshine and rainbows all the time, and there are so many things behind the scenes that happen that people don't get to see because we were just on the court and then we get off.

I think it will be fun for whoever is a tennis fan or a nontennis fan just to see how we do it.

Q. Do you think there is any connection between the fact that you have been followed by Netflix this year and you have had a really good season, just almost sort of, I don't know, wanting to perform well?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Because of Netflix (smiling)? No. I mean, look, you don't really know -- I didn't think once that, you know, when I'm winning, Oh, my gosh, this is going to look cool on Netflix.

It's a bonus. It's great.

Q. I feel like some people have felt that.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Well, if it's out of motivation, great.

I have thought, you know, if I don't have a big tournament where I do well, I won't have maybe that moment on camera where they're going to highlight it. But at the same time, I mean, I started playing tennis way before Netflix came around.

My goals and dreams are bigger than that, but it's cool that I had some good moments this year that they captured.

Q. You were obviously in Prague last year. We wanted to ask a quick question how the atmosphere in Glasgow varies from last year, how it's different, and how last year got you excited for this year.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Well, it's my first time in Glasgow, and it's absolutely great. We love the city. We have had some amazing dinners.

The crowd is awesome. I like that it's a bit younger. We had a lot of school kids cheering us on today, and I actually almost prefer that, because it makes me feel like kids are watching and they are like, Oh, maybe I want to do this one day.

So it's cool, yeah. Hopefully the crowds just keep coming as we progress.