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Serena Williams made her legion of fans riot after she won the first two rounds about what looks to be her last US Open. Follow the tennis icon of retirement teasing, the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens were packed with hopes of witnessing a triumphant end to Serena’s career at the US Grand Slam. Alas, the 40-year-old mother-of-one was knocked out in the third round 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1 by a competitor Ajla Tomljanovic. Learn more about the Australian tennis star who defeated Serena, below!
Where does Ajla Tomljanović come from?
29-year-old Ajla was born in Zagreb, Croatia and obtained Australian citizenship in 2018. The reason for the move was to improve her career, as reported. The Sydney Morning Herald. Well-respected tennis coach David Taylor and influential IMG agent Max Eisenbud hatched a plan because “elite coaches don’t come cheap, and the Croatian federation has nothing. like the resources of an Australian system armed with a successful war.” Soon, Ajla was on the team Down Under.
What is Ajla’s career record?
Elite athletes have a win-lose record of 363-273. This is her first time reaching the fourth round of the US Open. Ajla’s best performance at a Grand Slam to date has been at Wimbledon in the past two years, where she has reached the quarterfinals.
What about her ranking and record compared to Serena?
Ranked Number 46 in the world by the current Women’s Tennis Association, Ajla had her highest-ever finish in February at 38th. Friday’s match against Serena was her first against GOAT.
Ajla’s favorite artist is Rihanna
Ajla is just like us! Phenom put the singer “Umbrella” Rihanna at the top of her list, according to her bio on WTA website. She also loves hip hop, Brad Pitt, Charlotte, NC, and watching basketball. However, do not chew loudly around her, as it is listed as a pet.
She learned a trick from Novak Djokovic
Ajla has a helpful suggestion from one of the best in tennis, Novak Djokovic. “I remember Novak saying once when they asked him a lot about this, when the crowd turned against him, he just pretended it was for himself,” she revealed to NBC Sports. “When they chanted, I don’t know, Rafa (Nadal), Roger (Federer), who, he heard Novak, Novak, I loved that reaction.”
She added that she also uses meditation to her advantage. “When the crowd joins, that’s what it can come to you,” she explained to the outlet. “But I think if I just stay in my little bubble, have my corner that I go to when I need help just to support, block it as much as I can, I think all my meditation that I do here and there, I will try to just meditate all day tomorrow. “
