American legend Chris Evert has been a significant influence during dual-Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ajla Tomljanovic’s return to the tour after a series of injuries and illnesses and is the strongest woman the Australian star knows.
The Australian, who will play former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko in a renewal of what is a spicy rivalry in the opening round of the 2024 Championships, praised the influence of the 18-time major winner on Friday.
Evert, who revealed last December the ovarian cancer she had been diagnosed with in 2022 had again returned, assisted Tomljanovic when she was based in Florida and on the comeback trail from a shoulder injury and remains a strong supporter of the Aussie.
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Tomljanovic, who missed the first three grand slams of 2023 with a knee injury and then had surgery to remove uterine tumours in February, said the American was in contact daily during her run to a WTA Tour final in Birmingham last week.
“She’s been amazing because even though she’s got much bigger things going on, she will still check in and be worried and want to know everything,” Tomljanovic said.
“In the beginning, I always felt almost bad telling her, thinking ‘This is almost complaining’. And she’s like, ‘Are you joking? This is what I need to hear. I care about this.’
“She’s the strongest woman I know and it was funny because during Birmingham, we were texting and after every round she was like, ‘Oh my God. You won again?’”
Tomljanovic, who trails Ostapenko 1-3 in their head-to-head but defeated the Latvian at Wimbledon in 2021, is looking forward to seeing Evert at the All England Club.
The three-time Wimbledon champion was at Roland Garros earlier this month to present the trophy to champion Iga Swiatek.
“I’m excited to see her here. I think she’s already arrived, but she’s just been a constant in my life in tennis and every other aspect and … she’s the best,” she said.
“Oh my God, she just gives you inspiration. It’s great. She also turns every sad moment, or something negative, she spins it in a way where you laugh and you can see it from a different perspective. And I think that’s why she is where she is in her life and she’s conquered so many things. And she’s well at the moment and looks amazing.”
Ahead of her clash with the 13th seed Ostapenko, Tomljanovic said their relationship was stronger now than a couple of years ago when they exchanged heated words at Wimbledon.
The pair now exchange pleasantries when they cross paths and practised together at The Priory in Edgbaston last week during Tomljanovic’s run to her first WTA Tour final in five years.
“I’m just excited to play Jelena in the first round here,” she said.
“We’ve had some exciting matches whenever we have played each other and I feel like I do like playing her on grass. I think she’s very tough and it’s the type of match where if I’m not ready, it can be one way, so it’s going to really make me focus from the beginning.
“Knowing the draw now, I feel like it’s giving me a bit of more intensity in practice as well, knowing I’ll be getting just really big shots from her side and probably a few short points.
“There’ll be a bit of everything. (I need to) just mentally get ready for that match (and) I kind of like that I have a couple days to prepare.”
Tomljanovic, who reached the last eight at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022 but missed the tournament last year because of the knee complaint, is one of three Australian women in the draw.
Daria Saville will play American Peyton Stearns, who is ranked 59, while Olivia Gadecki will play another American and fellow qualifier Robin Montgomery.