Ajla Tomljanovic admits to succumbing to pressure early in her career

Ajla Tomljanovic won her first WTA main draw match in 2010 at the age of 16, and has admitted she put too much pressure on her self at that stage, leading to it having a negative effect on her mindset.

"Sometimes it's hard to accept that maybe where I thought I'd be, I didn't hit those marks," said Tomljanovic in an interview with the WTA. "It builds in my mind that I kind of failed. Then I want it even more.

"I'm a big thinker. I will overthink even the smallest things, which sometimes works for me and other times doesn't. On top of that I just want it so much a lot of the time. There's that little kid in me, all I wanted to ever do was play tennis and win."

Read also

2021 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells WTA Prize Money with a total of $8,761,725 on offer

However, the Australian has worked on becoming mentally stronger, and this has been evident in her results this season. The 28-year old reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year, and she displayed great mental strength in overcoming former World No.1 Garbine Muguruza in three sets at the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells tournament.

"Positivity, it's so cliché, but it speeds up everything, everything bad happening in your life," said Tomljanovic after her win over Muguruza.

"I'm learning to do that. ... I'm learning how to relax and stay competitive, but without having that added pressure from myself because it can be a curse a little bit. 'What's been really helpful this year is I've just accepted that whatever happens, happens and I have to move on and then try again. I don't try to dwell on the past or on the losses too long."