“I came out pretty flat,” Tomljanović says, reflecting on the last 48 hours.
About that 20-minute game in which she saved seven set points – she says she didn’t know it was 20 minutes and probably would’ve panicked if she had known. But she tried to stay as calm as possible.
When she learned she was going to face Serena Williams, she decided to stay off social media. Has she taken a peek now? She answers sheepishly: “I did take a peek just to feel good about myself.”
And she thanks the crowd, of course. She knows most people in Arthur Ashe Stadium a couple of games ago were cheering for Serena, but she says she still felt the love.
New York has a way of making people fall in love with it. Even those of us who have to WAIT FOREVER ON THE BELT PARK-- … no, no, not relevant now, it’s OK.
Anyway – Tomljanović certainly deserves another match in Arthur Ashe Stadium. What a double bill it would be if she and her ex both play on the big stage.
Her ex is Nick Kyrgios, and if you missed his win vs. Daniil Medvedev, it’s your loss.
Until next time, good night …
Updated
Ajla Tomljanović advances to quarterfinals
My goodness, Tomljanović is excellent in long rallies, and that’s very bad news for a player making as many errors as Samsonova. Tomljanović quickly gets to double match point, and Samsonova appropriately ends the match by hitting wide.
So the player who (probably kinda definitely but maybe but almost certainly) sent Serena Williams into retirement is in the quarterfinals.
