Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic reels off five consecutive games to score an impressive first-round win at Australian Open 2024.
Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Ajla Tomljanovic has recorded one of the most meaningful Grand Slam wins of her career.
A year after being left heartbroken when a knee injury forced her out of her home Grand Slam, the 30-year-old made a triumphant and emotional return at Australian Open 2024.
The Aussie favourite showcased her determination in a first-round showdown with world No.40 Petra Martic at John Cain Arena this evening.
Trailing 1-4 in the deciding set, Tomljanovic came charging back to record a steely 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4 victory in a two-hour and 53-minute battle.
“She really keeps you on your toes and I felt like I never really got settled to play my game,” Tomljanovic said.
“She hits amazing shots and then I can’t read her serve all the time, so I really felt like I had to hang in there because I knew it could turn on a dime.”
As the match edged closer to midnight, Tomljanovic was buoyed on by a passionate crowd.
“I really was out at one point. I felt like she was kind of toying with me,” Tomljanovic told the crowd in her post-match interview.
“But 4-1 down, double break, you guys never gave up, even more than me. So I was like if you’re here, I should give it my best.”
This is Tomljanovic’s first top-50 win since November 2022, marking another key milestone in her competitive return.
The challenges only increase for Tomljanovic from here, with world No.10 Jelena Ostapenko awaiting in the second round.
Ostapenko, who won last week’s Adelaide International title, eliminated Aussie wildcard Kimberly Birrell in the opening round.
Earlier today, Max Purcell recorded his first Australian Open main-draw singles win and Thanasi Kokkinakis won a five-set epic to notch his biggest singles victory at his home Grand Slam in nine years.
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Aussies in action – Australian Open
TODAY’S RESULTS
Women’s singles, first round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) d Petra Martic (CRO) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4
[11] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) d [WC] Kimberly Birrell (AUS) 7-6(5) 6-1
Sloane Stephens (USA) d [WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-3 6-1
Men’s singles, first round
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 7-6(1) 2-6 6-7(4) 7-6(8)
Max Purcell (AUS) d [Q] Mate Valkusz (HUN) 3-6 7-6(2) 6-4 7-5
Alex Michelsen (USA) d [WC] James McCabe…
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