Ashleigh Barty backs Ajla Tomljanovic for Australian Open charge – ‘She’s doing a hell of a job’
Ashleigh Barty sees no reason why Ajla Tomljanovic cannot continue her incredible Grand Slam form and challenge for the Australian Open next year.
With Barty retiring in March this year, Tomljanovic has taken over the mantle as the Australian No 1 and she has made steady progress she reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.
She finished the year at a career-high of No 33 in the WTA Rankings and it means she is on the cusp of being seeded for her home Grand Slam next year.
Barty has been impressed by the 29-year-old’s rise over the past few years.
“She’s had an exceptional year and deserves to be higher-ranked than she is at the moment,” the three-time Grand Slam winner told the Australian Associated Press.
“But you can’t do anything about that situation. It is what it is and what’s held her in really good stead is that she’s accepted that and she’s getting better and better and better.
“A couple of big quarter-finals in Slams this year, she played some exceptional tennis and she’s someone that Aussies can be very proud of.”
Barty retired just weeks after winning becoming the first Australian woman in 44 years to win the Australian Open and locals are hoping to see a new player rise to the challenge at Melbourne Park in 2023.
When asked if Tomljanovic can challenge for a major, Barty replied: “She already is.”
Tomljanovic beat former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova during her run to the last eight at Wimbledon while she also took a set off eventual champion Elena Rybakina in the quarters. At the US Open she ended 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams’ run with a three-set win in the third round.
Former world No 1 Barty continued: “And that’s the genuine feeling among the players.
“Certainly when I played Ajla, I knew I had to be at my absolute very best or she’d completely roll me.
“And she’s got that respect from everyone. She’s earned that respect over a number of years in her turning up every single day.
“She’s been through some awful injuries. She’s had hiccups and bumps along the way all through her career and now – fingers crossed, touch wood – that’s kind of settled a little bit.
“It can always be taken away very quickly from you as an athlete but she’s had an incredible year, absolutely, and I sincerely hope that she has a big Australian summer so that everyone can celebrate with her.
“She’s doing a hell of a job.”