AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2025

Ajla Tomljanovic

Press Conference

D. SHNAIDER/A. Tomljanovic

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Ajla, obviously not the result you wanted today, but just talk us through your thoughts on the match and how your opponent did today.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: First and foremost, for me the fact that I physically pulled up so well after my first round, and even today with some normal soreness that I had, I had no issues. I think I moved probably the best that I've moved in a long time. It gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.

But I think the biggest difference today was that she was pretty much -- she had not many dips in the hour and a half that we played. I had quite a few, you know, cheap points that I gave her in crucial moments. I think when you play players like her, you just can't afford that.

But I also feel like the more I play matches like this, the more I'll get match-tough against top players, which is really important.

But, at the same time, I feel like my level today was pretty high considering my match prep and everything. So as disappointed as I am, I'm really optimistic about this year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. So you are feeling pretty good in your body again?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I'm feeling really, really good. Like, I get scared to say it because I don't want to jinx it, but I've been feeling like this the last probably week. Yeah, I just want to keep doing what I've been doing, which is a lot of gym, getting stronger.

I definitely feel like myself again a little bit where I can actually play a match and think about tennis and not my body, so that's refreshing.

Q. Have you mapped out what you do next, or is it a bit too early?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: No, I know. I'm going to Singapore after Aus Open. Then I'm going to have a bit of a training block a couple of weeks, and then Austin, Indian Wells, Miami, and hopefully Charleston before BJK Cup.

Q. There seemed to be a lot of positives in that match today. A couple of chances. You were able to take a set off a top-12 player. What positives did you see in that match?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I don't approach it looking at her ranking because I haven't played her ever, and I don't really actually know her that well because I haven't even practiced with her.

I know she's had an incredible last year. So I just kind of try to compare myself to my best before, and that's not always a great thing.

If I am doing that today, I feel like I showed a lot of glimpses of how I used to play. That makes me happy. So I think that's the reason why I got it to be so close.

But it's also a good thing when you feel like there's a lot to improve on, which is my physicality, moving out of the corners quicker, and just a bit of more confidence in my shots.

There's a few times where I had a bit of hesitation. And I think when you are a bit more confident, you just go for it, and you don't lose that momentum, and just those little, yeah, just those little mistakes I've made.

Q. What does that look like to you when you are saying you are getting back to your best? What does that sort of look like? Are there certain trigger points to realize, yeah, I'm feeling good about this, this is my...

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Just being the one dictating points. I'm a taller player on the tour, and I think I wasn't the worst mover. I move good. And I think getting my movement back and dictating points, just trusting my shots, trusting my serve, trusting in my ability that I can, you know, produce really good tennis off my racquet and not being pushed around by my opponent.

So, yeah, just kind of being the one in control. I think that's when I play my best tennis.

Q. Last two years have been hard, obviously, with injury. You're one of the older players in the Australian contingent, but there are a lot of players on the tour right through their 30s performing at a very high level. What do you see your future like in three, five, ten years?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Like in tennis, or you're (laughing).

Q. Let's start with tennis.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: For ten years, I don't see myself playing for ten years, that's for sure.

I used to fear getting older and being in this stage of my career. But, I don't know, starting this year I feel really excited because I think that my best still could be in front of me. Judging from today, it gives me a lot of confidence to say that.

But I'm also really excited about life post-tennis because I think that tennis isn't everything. It's been a huge part of my life and my main priority for all these years since I've been little. But I've also gotten older and realized that there's a world out there that I haven't also -- you know, there are a lot of things that interest me outside of the sport.

So I've been able to kind of tap into that even while I'm still playing and compartmentalize that it's not just all tennis all the time. Yeah, I think that I will have a second career in something. I don't know exactly what yet, but I definitely don't see myself just retiring and living like a boring kind of life.

Q. Just to ask, what are those things that you've been spending a bit of time with compartmentalizing?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, in US Open I did a bit of commentating and just stuff. I like doing stuff on camera. I would love to have my own TV show. I know that's a dream. I'm a dreamer. Even in tennis I have dreams, like winning a slam. It doesn't mean it's going to happen, but I think these are the things that interest me.

I would love to be the one interviewing other people in the future. I love talking to people that have done cool things in their life, and picking their brains. So, yeah, some stuff like that. Maybe a podcast. I don't know.

I also want to, when I do something, I want to give it my all. So now I'm just dabbling because tennis is 100% still the priority for sure for some time in the future. I don't really think about when is my time because I have way too much passion left for the game. As long as I have that, I don't really think about the end at all.