With another exhausting victory at the Atx Open, Ajla Tomljanovic took a big step towards recognition for her tennis above all.
In his interview on the field with Tomljanovic Friday after his victory 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8) on Ena Shibahara, the master of ceremonies of the Kondo Simfukwe tournament called Tomljanovic as a Star of Netflix and asked what she was watching these days.
Tomljanovic, who played in the first season of Netflix’s “Break Point” series, which chronicles life on professional tours, quickly urged the master of ceremonies: “You have to stop calling me.”
Obviously, the Australian player who was classified as high as 32nd in the world wants tennis to be his main identity, and thinks that it is already the east.
“I just think it’s ridiculous because no one considers me something other than a tennis player,” she said. “I love Kondo, but I don’t know if he thinks it’s a compliment. I had a Netflix season and I have been a tennis player for 15 years. I don’t think I have to do something else to prove that I am a tennis player. “”
His tennis Friday afternoon – and throughout the week – was sufficient proof. Friday, marked her second consecutive victory in three sets, and in her 3 victories, she spent nearly seven hours on the field.
Tomljanovic prevails in a back and forth battle
Tomljanovic took an advance of 3-0 in the final set and served for the match at 5-3, only to make Shibahara fight, then maintain the service to equalize the set 5-5. After Tomljanovic increased by 6-5, she had two chances of winning the match, but Shibahara saved them both and forced an equality break.
The equality break reflected the third set. Tomljanovic started quickly. She took 3-0 and 6-3 lead to win three chances of a match point, but Shibahara saved them all. Then Shibahara reached the match point with an advance of 7-6, but Tomljanovic saved this. Shibahara saved two additional match points before Tomljanovic converted during his eighth try to close the match.
“I lost a few lives there today, but I’m going to take this for a victory,” Tomljanovic told the crowd after the match. “It was a very demanding match. I am emotionally exhausted. It would have been difficult to lose, I will not lie. »»
How far was the match? Official statistics have credited Tomljanovic with 109 total points won, Shibhara with 107. The difference: the margin 10-8 in the equality break.
Finally have the chance to play Austin
Tomljanovic planned to play at the Atx Open last year, but had to withdraw due to the first of the several injuries that hindered her 2024 season. Now that she is in Austin, she has the impression of catching up in the city while playing very good tennis.
“My heart was broken last year because the surgery I got out of nowhere,” said Tomljanovic. “When something is happening and you don’t expect it, you need some time to achieve what you are missing.”
Earlier in the week, Tomljanovic said that she had started her junior tennis career in Austin and that she has always felt at home here. The success she appreciates this week reinforces this for her.
“I am really grateful to have still had the chance to come back this year and I am really, really happy that I can have a week when I win a lot of games,” she said. “And I also have such a good time on the field. It looks like an event so friendly for me and it couldn’t have been better for the moment.
Relying on victory as it continues its recovery
This semi-final has marked the best section of Tomljanovic since October 2024, when she won a WTA 125 event in Hong Kong. It is classified 111st and is added, trying to return to the top 50. Being in good health was the key to starting to collect the results, but therefore has an improved mental approach.
It turned out on Friday when Shibahara recorded the match point after the match point.
“I think that not lingering too long on errors (is important),” she said. “During the last three games, I really liked the way I retaliated in the games that I was broken down from Love-30 or Love-40 and that I won them. I think last year, I had a lot of these games and I would leave them almost, almost in a way. (Now) I really dig deeply.
With three consecutive victories, Tomljanovic thinks that she can continue to push herself in the ranking.
“I think I play a good level, but I always have the impression that the ceiling is high with literally each plan of the book,” she said. “It’s a good time to go out on the practice court at the moment.”
Tomljanoivc will meet Jessica Pegula to seed during one of the semi-finals on Saturday.
Open ATX
Saturday-dimanche, Westwood Country Club, tennis channel
The semi -finals of Saturday – simple from 1:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., double 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday final – single 1 p.m.; double to follow
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: The tennis star of Netlix Ajla Tomljanovic wins the place in the semi-final atx open
