Injury woes on mind of Tomljanovic
AUSTRALIAN-IN-WAITINGAjla Tomljanovic is terrified of injury after a long battle with shoulder problems.
The Croatian-born 24-yearold put up a brave fight in a three-set loss to fifth seed Johanna Konta at the Brisbane International on Tuesday despite suffering a leg injury.
Tomljanovic admitted that every time she feels an ache or a twinge she fears it could be a serious injury.
“It’s tough now with my history,” Tomljanovic said. “I feel one thing and maybe in my head it’s bigger than it really is.
“But I’m OK with that. My biggest fear is taking time off and injuries.
“Even in practice when I feel something, I stop soon and I try to be as realistic as I can, but I think it’s better to be more cautious than reckless.”
Tomljanovic reached a career high of No.47 in the world in 2015 but shoulder surgery meant that by 2017 her ranking had dropped into the 900s.
She has since worked her way back up to No.118 and this week said she felt like a better player than her most recent numbers suggested.
“I don’t really want to put numbers on it, but I feel like when I’m playing my best I can do good things, so I can definitely say I don’t feel like a 118 player,” she said.
With boyfriend and sometime hitting partner Nick Kyrgios watching from the stands, Tomljanovic pushed Konta in the first set and hung on doggedly through the third, sporting a bandaged thigh after feeling a strain in her leg during the second set.
Yesterday, she had her right leg heavily strapped as she took to the court with Queenslander Priscilla Hon for a doubles match.
Tomljanovic, who pledged her allegiance to Australia in mid-2014, passed her citizenship test last month. She plans to make her move official with a citizenship ceremony and to be playing for her adopted country after the summer.