Evert recounts advice given to Tomljanovic: "You are too nice, You know, you've got to be a little bitchy out there sometimes"

Ajla Tomljanovic has been mentored by Chris Evert since she was 12 and the American talked about the Australian on the tennis tv series Breaking Point.

Tomljanovic was unable to play at the Australian Open this year but she's been a very steady performer at the grand slam level for a while. A couple of quarter-finals and some good results make the Aussie player a very consistent player that can defeat anyone on her best day. Speaking in Breaking Point, Evert recalled their first meeting:

"I remember meeting Ajla when she was 12 years old. And I saw a player that had potential. I grew very close to her and became like her mentor. There are more than, like, 10000 women pros, and to get to the top-50, it's a big achievement. But she could be top-10. I always thought the thing missing from her was her toughness. I said 'You are too nice. You know, you've got to be a little bitchy out there sometimes. You've got to be mean."

Read also

Medvedev to drop out of top 10 after Korda defeat as he tumbles down rankings post Australian Open