"I kind of liked that response. I might use that on Friday night" - Tomljanovic to try Djokovic's tactic against Serena

Ajla Tomljanovic looked to Novak Djokovic as inspiration ahead of her match against Serena Williams knowing she will face a hostile crowd.

Djokovic has faced many hostile crowds over the years, especially when playing fan favourites like Roger and Rafa. The Serbian has an interesting method of dealing with it and Tomljanovic is looking to try and do the same:

“I remember Novak [Djokovic] saying one time when they asked him a lot about this, when the crowd was against him, he just pretends it’s for him. When they chant, ‘Rafa, Roger, whoever,’ he hears `Novak, Novak.’ I kind of liked that response. I might use that on Friday night.”

She understands it will be very hard to block it out:

“I think it’s hard to block out when she’s standing across the net. Like, I know who she is. I just remember watching her in the Wimby finals with my sister in front of the TV after my practices. It’s a little surreal to me that I made it, and played in the same era as her."

But she also praised her for everything that she did in tennis:

“She’s paved the way for so many, inspired me to go for my dreams. Even her longevity. I’m kind of in the part of my career now where they call you on the older side. She’s made that kind of nonexistent.”