Aussie star, Ajla Tomljanovic takes on the home-favorite, Jang Su-jeong in the R32 of the Korea Open. Both of these players haven’t been in good form this year, yet Tomljanovic managed to reach the final of the Birmingham Classic in June this year. Over there, she was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva by two sets. On the other, Jeong has made quite a few deep runs at the ITF level but she hasn’t played much on the main Tour this year. Will this give an added advantage to the experienced Australian?

Ajla Tomljanovic vs Jang Su-jeong: Preview

Ajla Tomljanovic is entering this match after her 3-6,2-6 defeat to Belgium’s Elise Mertens. Although she won her first match against America’s Ann Li at the US Open, she didn’t look too impressive in that match either. Tomljanovic has never competed at the Korea Open, so it’ll be interesting to see how well she adapts to these conditions.

On the other hand, Jan Su-jeong’s best record this season has been reaching the finals of the W75 Olomouc 004. Hunagary’s Anna Bondar defeated her in that match by 3-6,6(4)-7. In the US Open, she started quite strongly by winning her first two qualifiers, but Jeong was defeated by Japan’s Nao Hibino in the third qualifier match by 1-6,6-2,6-0. Can she pull things back on track in Seoul? Time will tell, but before that let’s take a look at their H2H scoreline.

Tomljanovic vs Jeong: Head-to-Head

Ajla Tomljanovic and Jan Su-Jeong haven’t yet played against each other in their careers. So, currently, the H2H scoreline is at 0-0. However, Jeong reached the second round here in 2021 and 2023. So, we expect her to come up with a sturdy challenge in front of her home fans against the Australian. However, will it be enough to topple someone like Ajla Tomljanovic?

Prediction: Tomljanovic to win in three sets

Ajla Tomljanovic comes up with vast experience of playing at the highest level for almost 15 years. She has the experience of playing against some of the best in business in the tennis world. However, if we look at Jang Su-jeong’s record, she looks a bit inexperienced in this aspect. Tomljanovic is currently ranked 122nd in the world and she has a win-loss record of 8-13. The 29-year-old South Korean star, Jeong is placed at the 231st spot in the women’s singles ranking. She has a win-loss record of 18-12 at the ITF level. 

If we take a look at their playing styles, Jang Su-jeong is known for her fighting spirit and her incredible ability to adapt to different playing styles. She has the potential to turn the match in her favor with her outstanding strategic shot-making skills and her enormous tenacity on the court. Apart from all these things, Tomljanovic also needs to keep an eye on Jeong’s strong two-handed backhand.

Ajla Tomlajovic on the other hand is known for her smart aggressive brand of tennis. She heavily relies on her strong backhand and solid serves to seal the deal against her opponents. Tomljanovic has a big first ser that often earns her free points during intense moments of the matches. However, Jeong needs to be extremely watchful of Tomljanovic’s incredible backhand. However, the biggest concern for the Aussie would be her high double fault counts. She played two matches at the US Open and in those two matches, she hit 21 double faults! So, if Tomljanovic keeps a check on this then she may win this match. However, we’re expecting a fight from Jeong on her home soil in this match.