Wondering who Serena Williams is facing in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open, her final tournament as a pro before retiring?
You’ve come to the right place.
The legend will be facing Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday night in Queens, with the winner moving on to the fourth round (we don’t know who either will be facing then, at least as of publishing this).
So who is Tomljanovic? Can she end up being the answer to a trivia question about who beat Williams in what could be her final match if the GOAT loses?
Let’s dive in with some facts:
1
She's currently the 46th ranked player in the WTA
She’s hit 38th as her career-high ranking before. Her highest finish at a grand slam was the quarterfinals twice at Wimbledon.
2
She was born in Croatia but became an Australian citizen in recent years
That was a decision to help her career, per the Sydney Morning Herald:
The story starts, however unwittingly, with David Taylor, the respected former coach of Sam Stosur, Alicia Molik and others, and Max Eisenbud, the influential IMG agent whose superstar client list is headed by Maria Sharapova and Li Na.
After Taylor’s split with Stosur in August, Eisenbud organised a trial in November between the experienced Tennis Australia employee and the talented but green 20-year-old, who ended the season ranked 78th, up from No.453.
It all went well. So to the practicalities.
Elite coaches do not come cheaply, and the Croatian federation has nothing like the resources of an Australian system bankrolled by a successful grand slam. The plan was hatched as a bit of a joke, actually, Eisenbud recalls. You know, haha, what would happen if Ajla played for Australia, they laughed? Hmmm, now, there’s an idea. Soon enough, a serious one.
3
Some fun facts
Favorite movie is The Hangover; favorite actor is Brad Pitt; favorite type of music is hip hop; favorite artist is Rihanna; favorite city to visit is Charlotte, North Carolina (family)
4
She's a fairly frequent Instagram poster
5
She learned a trick from Novak Djokovic that she might use while facing Serena
From NBC Sports Chicago:
“I remember Novak saying one time when they asked him a lot about this, when the crowd was against him, he just pretends it’s for him. When they chant, I don’t know, Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), whoever, he hears Novak, Novak,” Tomjljanovic said. “I kind of liked that response. I might use that on Friday night.
Another method the world No. 46 said she will be using is meditation “all day.”
“… When the crowd gets involved, that’s what it can get to you,” she said. “But I think if I just stay within my little bubble, have my corner that I go to when I need help just for support, block it out as much as I can, I think all my meditation that I do here and there, I’m going to try to just meditate all day tomorrow.”
