Ajla Tomljanovic has continued to fly the Aussie standard handed over by Ash Barty, surviving a nervy final set to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The new Australian No.1 battled back after losing the first set to defeat French giant-killer Alize Cornet 4-6 6-4 6-3 on Monday.
In doing so, she became the first Australian woman into successive quarter-finals at Wimbledon since Jelena Dokic 22 years ago.
It wasn’t easy though. Tomljanovic went 5-1 up in the decider only for Cornet, who stunned world No.1 Iga Swiatek in the last round, to fight back to serve at 3-5.
Tomljanovic, however, has been brimming with belief this Wimbledon.
Cornet saved two match points but the Australian No.1 forced a third after an incredible 26-stroke rally at deuce in which the two covered every inch of the court.
That typified a two hours, 35 minutes slugfest in which both players gave their all.
This time the 29-year-old finished the job with a cross-court shot at the net that just landed in court prompting an anxious wait before the umpire said ‘game, set and match…’.
“I didn’t think I could do it,” said an emotional Tomljanovic, who was in tears courtside.
“I didn’t know if I could keep up my physicality and she [Cornet] never goes away.
“I had such great memories from last year [when Tomljanovic lost to Barty in her first grand slam quarter-final] and I look back and think I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should. I’ve had tough moments this year and now a year on, I am here again.
Making the victory even sweeter was the presence of mother Emina in the stands.
Last year COVID-19 restrictions meant she did not travel to London and she was too nervous to watch her daughter’s matches on TV.
“She was at home in Florida,” said Tomljanovic. “I could tell she wasn’t watching – I was kinda mad as it is not easy to make the quarter-final and I don’t know if I am going to do it again. But she is my biggest cheerleader.”
Victory meant her travel agent – father Ratko – has again extended her hotel room. “I play Wednesday, so it’s probably only until Thursday morning – maybe it is reverse psychology for him,” she said.
Then she added with a smile: “Fortunately, they have rooms – but even if I have to share the room with a stranger, I am not leaving that hotel!”
In the last eight, Tomljanovic, world No.44, will play Kazakhstan’s No.17 seed Elena Rybakina who beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 7-5 6-3.
In their one previous meeting on Madrid clay last year, the Kazakh won 6-4 6-0, but Tomljanovic said: “After last year playing Ash, I think I can face anyone”.
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