Chrissie’s presence leaves Ajla rapt

AFTER getting some tips from tennis legend Chris Evert, Ajla Tomljanovic has become the first Australian woman in over two decades to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals two years in succession.

Jelena Dokic made the Wimbledon quarter-finals in 1999 then went one further and made the semis in 2000 but no-one has done it since.

Not even Ash Barty, who won the women’s titles at Wimbledon last year, has managed it but Tomljanovic has after beating Alize Cornet of France 4-6 6-4 6-3, surprising herself as much as anyone else.

“Until it really happens, it never really sinks in. That’s how I approach it,” Tomljanovic (pictured) said.

Tomljanovic lost to Barty in last year’s quarter- finals and has now w replaced the retired champion as Australia’s top ranked female player. Her next opponent this time is Elena Rybakina, from Kazakhstan. She’s seeded 17th and although Tomljanovic has never beaten her she feels she has a better chance of making the semis than when she faced Barty.

“Now I think I’m in a different spot, for sure,” she said.

Based in Florida, Tomljanovic has recently struck a friendship with Evert, one of the all-time greats who won 18 grand slam singles titles. Evert has been passing on advice and was one of the first to congratulate her after she fought back to beat Cornet.

“We’ve been in contact a lot,” Tomljanovic said. “She texted me before the match that she believes in me and that I need to believe that I belong here. She called me right away after. It’s surreal. To me, she’s just Chrissie. I’m very blessed to have her in my corner, that’s for sure.”