Ajla Tomljanovic will face the retiring Serena Williams for the first time in her career after recording a come-from-behind victory at the US Open.
New York, USA, 1 September 2022 | Vivienne Christie
Ajla Tomljanovic has set a tantalising showdown with Serena Williams at the US Open, after a come-from-behind win in the second round.
The top-ranked Australian woman battled through a match of major momentum swings to overcome Evgeniya Rodina 1-6 6-2 7-5 in two-and-a-half hours.
Equalling her career-best-showing at Flushing Meadows with a second straight third-round showing, Tomljanovic will aim to again call on her composure when she faces the American great.
Following her hard-fought first-round win over Karolina Muchova, the world No.48 Tomljanovic required another gritty performance against a determined Rodina.
The 33-year-old was contesting her first event in three years, after becoming a mother to two children since her last tournament, on the grass courts of Eastbourne, in 2019.
Having utilised a protected ranking of world No.73 to enter the US Open, Rodina made a mockery of her unranked status as she upset the 27th-ranked Marina Trevisan in the US Open first round.
Rodina appeared on a similar course as she served for victory against Tomljanovic at 5-3 in the third set.
But Tomljanovic drew on recent career highlights – including a second straight quarterfinal at Wimbledon and an upset of top-five ranked Paula Badosa in Cincinnati – to win the final four games of the match.
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Rodina had dominated earlier against Tomljanovic, opening with a service break, consolidating and gaining another break against the Australian to take a 3-0 lead.
She saved two break points to extend that lead to 4-0, before Tomljanovic finally made it on the scoreboard in the fifth game. But Rodina maintained control, converting her third break point to claim the opening set in 33 minutes.
A prompt turnaround appeared likely when a more clean-hitting Tomljanovic gained a double break of serve to take a 3-0 lead in the second set.
An extended medical timeout disrupted that momentum, Rodina leaving the court and returning with her upper right leg bandaged. It didn’t impact her tennis, with the 33-year-old gaining a break back.
It was the only blip for Tomljanovic, who steadily elevated her level to force a third set.
In a tense decider, Rodina gained a narrow advantage as the pair…
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