Ajla Tomljanovic is enjoying a renaissance in 2021. Although she endured a disappointing 2020 where she fell to #68 in the world rankings, she started the season by making the second round in the Australian Open.

The 28-year-old made her biggest impact in the Wimbledon Championships, where she reached the quarterfinals. Ahead of the upcoming US Open, the Australian revealed the influence of tennis legend Chris Evert in her early days.

Ajla Tomljanovic admits Chris Evert’s influence in her early years was huge

Born in Zagreb, she took up tennis at the age of six. To continue training, she moved to Boca Raton in Florida aged 13. It’s here where she would meet Evert, the 18-time Grand Slam Champion.

Recently, Tomljanovic revealed how Evert noticing her despite her young age of 13 helped her massively. She said, “It’s been really big, especially in the early ages because I was a baby. She saw me when I was 13, and it’s not easy coming into the tennis world when you don’t know anything and you get intimidated.”

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She later used colorful words to reveal how Evert influenced her attitude towards the game. “She always would tell me, in a nice way, that you’ve got to be a b**** out there. And the thing is, Chrissie is nowhere close to a b**** but I always knew what she meant.

“There were so many moments in my career where she was around, what people don’t see, and she would take time out of her life to really help me.”

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Tomljanovic: We developed more of a friendship

Over the years, the Australian revealed how their friendship developed. While she admitted she respected Evert’s accomplishments, she sees her as her friend more often in today’s time.

She said, “We actually developed more of a friendship now than anything else which helps even more. Of course, I respect her as the 18-time Grand Slam Champion. But I see her just as Chrissie. You know, the person that comes to dinner and we have glasses of wine.”

With the US Open starting August 30, Tomljanovic will look to build on her excellent run in Wimbledon earlier this year. Can the Australian go beyond the second round for the first time in Flushing Meadows?

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