Evert believed Tomljanovic's hunger to succeed improved after Berrettini break-up: "Starting to see it now that she doesn't have a boyfriend"

Australian tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic made an inspired run to last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals, and Chris Evert jokingly stated this was due to her break-up with then-boyfriend Matteo Berrettini.

In the first episode of the second season of Netflix's 'Break Point', Evert and Tomljanovic were featured when the former World No.1 came to visit the Aussie star. Tomljanovic has stated that she sees Evert as a second mother, with the feeling being reciprocated by the retired American champion.

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"Chris Evert went from being Chris Evert, the legend to mentor/friend, almost like, you know, a second mom," Tomljanovic said.

"She's my daughter. I didn't have a daughter, I had three sons," revealed the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion.

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Furthermore, Evert praised Tomljanovic's new mentality, jokingly claiming that the Aussie had more hunger to win because she didn't have a boyfriend anymore. This was in reference to Tomljanovic's break up with Berrettini earlier in 2022.

"She's stronger now," said Evert. "The last couple years, all that was missing from her game was the mental part, like she wasn't hungry enough or she didn't want it enough, but I'm starting to see it now, now that she doesn't have a boyfriend. I don't know if she will like me saying that."

Tomljanovic would later lose in the quarterfinals against eventual champion Elena Rybakina.

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