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Pat Rafter has always had a high opinion of Ajla Tomljanovic’s talent and grit and says this summer of tennis is where she can take the next step and build towards challenging for an Australian Open title.
The 29-year-old world no.33 will line up in the inaugural United Cup in Sydney from Thursday in an Australian line-up which includes Nick Kygrios and Alex de Minaur.
The 18-country mixed teams event will be played in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and is where Tomljanovic will begin her preparation for the Australian Open in January.
Tomljanovic made the quarter finals of the US Open and Wimbledon this year to reach her highest world singles ranking.
“Ajla did well in the grand slams this year and wasn’t far off going further either. She is a great ball striker and when she has her confidence she goes great,” Rafter told AAP.
“Sometimes her confidence isn’t there and she doesn’t play as well, but going that extra step is all about adding an extra string to your bow and working out how to win when you aren’t playing well.
“As you get older you work out how all that works. Hopefully she has learned from her experience and can win when not playing her best tennis.”
The Croatian-born right-hander has battled injuries over the years but it is the way she has dealt with them that most impresses Rafter.
“Ajla has had an up and down career mainly because she’s had such horrible injuries,” Rafter said.
“She’s had some pretty bad shoulder operations and it is pretty hard to come back from that but through it all she has remained really upbeat, which is why she is having some good results now.
“I take my hat off to her. She has hung in there when she could have really packed it in … after being touted as the next big thing. She fought hard to get back into it. I am hopeful we can see her talent come to the fore this summer.”
When Rafter was more involved in the Australian tennis scene he had a bit to do with Tomljanovic and her father Ratko.
“Ajla is a great girl. All the dealings I have ever had with her father Ratko were great. They were always really grateful and a really good team,” he said.
Rafter said he was looking forward to watching the first United Cup unfold.
“I think it is a great concept. Tennis Australia like to try new initiatives and they are having a crack here with the men and women playing together,” he said. “I am really interested to see how it plays out.”
Craig Tiley wants a happy Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open, forecasting that will be a factor in whether he repeats Ash Barty’s home-country success.
Barty this year became the first Australian woman since 1978 to claim the title.
After her retirement, Kyrgios will head into next month’s tournament as the big local hope.
But Kyrgios is a man of potent moods and Tiley, the tournament director, said how the volatile right-hander handles the local pressure will be crucial.
“Playing at home in front of your home crowd and expected to win – that’s why I think one of the greatest wins we’ve seen here at Melbourne Park was Ash Barty,” Tiley said.
“It’s a very difficult thing to do … only they (players) can talk about it, but responding to the pressure is not that straightforward.
“We would love to see Nick do well. For us, it’s just day-by-day and him staying healthy, enjoying the competition.
“I believe if Nick comes out and has some fun while he’s doing it, and has an opportunity to play his best tennis, that would be great.”
Kyrgios made the Wimbledon final this year and his world ranking shot up from 137 in February to 22.
He also partnered compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis to win the Australian Open doubles title.
“Reaching the Wimbledon final is a pretty significant achievement – having the year that he had is a significant achievement,” Tiley said.
No Australian has won the men’s title since Mark Edmondson in 1976 and Kyrgios’ opposition will include defending champion Rafa Nadal.
Novak Djokovic, the nine-time Australian Open champion, will be back after he controversially was expelled from the country in January because of COVID-19 rules.
Tiley said the Serbian landed in Adelaide on Monday to finalise his preparations for the Open.
Djokovic’s visa issues were a hot topic during the year, but Tiley is hopeful he will have a warm reception from Australian fans.
He noted Djokovic is on a mission to join Nadal on 22 grand slam titles – he is one behind the Spaniard – and eventually prove himself as the greatest men’s player in history.
“I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public – we’re a very well-educated sporting public, particularly those who come to the tennis,” he said.
“They love seeing greatness … I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react like we hope they would react and have respect for that.”
Tiley said there had been a “pent-up” demand for tickets after two years of the pandemic.
The tournament is aiming to top 2020, its best year, with Tiley hoping about 900,000 fans will attend.
As the temperature ramped up into the mid-30s on Tuesday, Tiley said the long-range forecast for next month is “good”.
“Contingent on good weather, we are expecting a record-breaking 2023,” he said.
“There are a few things we cannot control – we cannot control changing health conditions, we cannot control changing weather conditions.
“The long-range forecast has been really good for January – but again, it’s the weather, it’s Melbourne.”
© AAP
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