FCI Staff Writer Sacramento 
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November 21, 2023,
She is not the villain.
Absolutely not.
But to some, because she was the player who defeated the all-time great Serena Williams, at the 2022 US Open and sent her into retirement, it may feel that way.
It was on September 2, 2022, in the Third Round, on Arthur Ash Stadium, in front of a celebrity studded crowd, she ended Serena’s run 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1.
The team at sports.yahoo.com capsulized it well, “The three-hour match had a wild, lengthy comeback that ended with a heated tiebreak in the second set before Tomljanovic finally closed out the match in the third, ending what will go down as one of the best, and most-watched, matches of the tournament.”
Understood and agree. We watched closely.
We also watched closely as Ajla starred in the behind the tennis scenes Netflix series, Break Point.
Break Point is a documentary series produced in a collaboration between Netflix, Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to give a behind-the-scenes look at the players and tournaments of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour.
The first part, consisting of five episodes and focusing on the Australian Open, Indian Wells Masters, Madrid Open, and French Open was released on January 13, 2023, while the second part consisting of five episodes and focusing on Wimbledon, Eastbourne International, Queen’s Club, U.S. Open, WTA Finals, and ATP Finals was released on 21 June 2023.
How well did it do?
In March 2023, the series was renewed for a second season.
Perhaps view it as the professional tennis version of the NFL’s Hard Knocks.
There Ajla can be described as very open and honest regarding the aftermath of her win over Serena, where she tells cameras in a confessional that she felt like the most hated woman in New York.
Ending the career of a legend on her home turf can do that to you.
Time will certainly remember her for that victory more than any accomplishment she has achieved thus far.
So, who is this giant slayer? Time for a closer look.
Ajla is an Australian professional tennis player who has won four singles and three doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit.
On April 3, 2023, she reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 32.
In terms of her youth, Ajla was born in Zagreb to Croatian father Ratko Tomljanović who played handball professionally (winner of the 1992 and 1993 handball European Cup) and Bosniak mother Emina.
Her older sister Hana played tennis for the University of Virginia.
Ajla began playing tennis at the age of six and moved to Florida for higher level training when she was 13.
Ajla was an accomplished junior player, having won the 2009 Australian Open girls’ doubles title with Christina McHale. She reached a combined career-high junior ranking of world No. 4, on 30 March 2009.
Very impressive.
Before 2014, Ajla played for her country of birth, Croatia.
She began competing for Australia at the 2014 US Open after obtaining permanent residency in Australia.
For the next four years she was required to represent Croatia at all non-Grand Slam events, until she was granted Australian citizenship in January 2018, allowing her to represent the country at all events on the WTA Tour.
2014 was an emerging year, filled with great expectations.
Ranked No. 72 at the French Open, Ajla got her tournament run to a great start by upsetting 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in the first round. In the second, she upset 32nd seed Elena Vesnina, in two sets.
Then she stunned third seed Agnieszka Radwańska to advance to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career, where her run came to an end when she lost to 14th seed Carla Suárez Navarro.
Her best showing at the French Open improved her ranking from 72 to No. 51.
Having said all of that, 2023 has been a challenging year.
Our Australian star was announced to be a part of the Australian 2023 United Cup team, and arrived in Sydney to play the event. Australia was placed in Group D with Great Britain and Spain.
Before Australia’s tie against Great Britain, Ajla announced her withdrawal from her first match against Harriet Dart due to a knee injury.
She was then scheduled to play Spain’s Paula Badosa in the following days, however, she did not participate for the same reason.
Her woes continued.
Ajla then skipped the Adelaide International and traveled to Melbourne to prepare for the upcoming 2023 Australian Open.
She was scheduled to play Nadia Podoroska of Argentina in the first round of the event. Two days before the start of the tournament, Ajla again had to withdraw from her home Grand Slam event due to the same lingering knee issue.
She had been sidelined for 10 months and the knee injury required surgery
Very frustrating.
She then returned at the 2023 US Open where she beat Panna Udvardy in three sets.
Things were looking up. Then bad news came again.
Ajla then withdrew due to fatigue before her second round match with No. 4 seeded Elena Rybakina. Tomljanovic received a wildcard for the WTA 1000 event in Guadalajara, Mexico where she lost in round one to Taylor Townsend.
Results like that will affect your rankings. Boasting a once number 32 in the world, currently Ajla is ranked 299.
It is hard to say that without being shocked.
The good news, no make that great news, Ajla has been very successful with her earnings. Her lifetime prize money is $5,786,606.
She is sponsored by Original Penguin.
Who are they?
Original Penguin is an American clothing line.
With roots in the 1950s and 60s, the brand specializes in clothing, footwear, and eyewear. It is sold in North America, South America, Central America, Europe and Asia-Pacific (Philippines). It has stores in 5 states in the US.
Good for her. We hope that her news keep going in the right direction.
She currently plays with a Wilson tennis racquet.
Hopefully Ajla can heal up. Approaching the 2024 Australian Open, on her home turf, this dynamic player might have a great run Down Under and embrace a new title.
Comeback Heroine.
~ ~ ~
OPENING PHOTO Shutterstock-Jimmie48-Photography-Editorial-use fcielitecompetitor.com, fciwomenswrestling2.com, femcompetitor.com, grapplingstars.com fcielitecompetitor.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_Point_(2023_TV_series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajla_Tomljanovi%C4%87
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_Penguin
https://www.fciwomenswrestling2.com
https://www.fcielitecompetitor.com/
https://fciwomenswrestling.com/
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