"Whatever happened happened, it's been a while": After branding Jelena Ostapenko a liar at Wimbledon, Ajla Tomljanovic set for Australian Open rematch
WTA
Alja
Tomljanovic recalled the controversy with Jelena Ostapenko at Wimbledon just a
day before their encounter in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open. The
memorable situation occurred when the Australian secured a victory with a score
of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in a tense match where Ostapenko called for medical
assistance, and Tomljanovic accused her of faking an injury.
At the end
of the match during the net handshake, Ostapenko did not remain silent and,
annoyed, confronted Tomljanovic for not believing her injury: "If you
think I'm faking it, you can talk with the physio. Your behavior is terrible.
You have zero respect." Tomljanovic did not back down and maintained her
stance: "You're the one to talk." Ostapenko responded, "What?
You're the worst player on tour."
In a press
conference, Tomljanovic was asked about the reunion with Ostapenko and whether
it could be another similar match: "What happened happened. It's been a
while," said the current world No. 271. "I think we played each other
once more [at Eastbourne in 2021], and she beat me," she added.
“Look, I
have respect for her as a player. What happened, that was just in that moment.
I just reacted
'We never
spoke about it. We're both going to be competitive, that's for sure. I do think
at least from my side I respect her as a tennis player. In that moment, I
wasn't happy.”
A Clash of confidence
Alja
Tomljanovic also previewed what she expects from the upcoming match against
Ostapenko, who recently entered the top 10 after being outside the select group
for 5 years. “I'm definitely the underdog. I love that,” Tomljanovic claimed.
“But I feel like playing her in the second round, I'm probably going to
hopefully play even better than I did today.”
On the
other hand, Ostapenko commented that after her first-round match against
Kimberly Birrel last Tuesday, she planned to watch the match between
Tomljanovic and Petra Martic, but she felt confident regardless of the winner:
“I've beaten her a couple of times,” she said. “It's not going to be an easy
match, but I will try to focus more on myself and my game,” Ostapenko added.
“I mean,
I'm still quite emotional on the court, but I think it's my personality on the
court,” former French Open champion stated. “I really am a fighter, and I will
never give up, so sometimes I get really mad when I lose those points,” Jelena
Ostapenko concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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