Tomljanovic marches on at Wimbledon

Glenn Moore | July 5, 2022

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.

This time she finished the job.

“I didn’t think I could do it,” said an emotional Tomljanovic, who was in tears at 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 she 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.

In the last eight, Tomljanovic will play Kazakhstan’s No.17 seed Elena Rybakina who beat Croatia’s Petra Martic 7-5 6-3.

“After last year playing Ash, I think I can face anyone,” said Tomljanovic.