Australian tennis star Ajla Tomljanovic has reached the third round of the US Open for the first time after defeating Petra Martic in a late night victory, 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.
Her promising performance in New York continued Tomljanovic’s career-best run at grand slams of late, having reached the Wimbledon quarterfinal in July.
She credited her current form to a significant change in her mindset.
“I think a few things have clicked in my mind, which is that you know I believe I can I can compete with the best, and actually win,” Tomljanovic, 28, said after the match.
“In the past I believed but when it came down to it, there was always more doubt creeping in when pressure situations would arise.
“Now I feel like I have a plan when I go out there and believe I can execute it and that’s been the biggest thing that’s shifted.”
Against the Croatian 30th seed, Tomljanovic had 71 per cent of her first serves in, and converted five out of six break points, as well as 17 winners.
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Watching on in the stands was her boyfriend, fellow tennis player Matteo Berrettini.
Tomljanovic dug deep to come out victorious. The first set proved critical with Martic twice in the position to serve for the set, only for the Aussie to flip the script.
“I felt like the match was a little bit ugly from both sides,” Tomljanovic said.
“I was happy to produce some good tennis when it mattered.
“I was down a break a few times in both sets and hung in there and the fact that I broke her a few times gave me confidence.
“I’m definitely happy that I got it done in a straight sets.”
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The world No. 46 will now play fourth seed Karolina Pliskova in the third round, with the Czech fresh off reaching the final at Wimbledon.
Pliskova has a strong 5-1 win-loss record against Tomljanovic, but an exhausting 7-5 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (9-7) win over American Amanda Anisimova may work in the Aussie’s favour.
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