
“I don't think I've faced a more nerve-wracking moment in my life since the one in Perth. So it really put everything in perspective, and I felt like anything that will come my way after that will be a piece of cake.”
— Ajla Tomljanovic, 7 Apr 2025
» Tomljanovic better for Billie Jean King Cup experience
On court
- Started playing tennis at age seven
- Favourite shot is backhand and favourite surface is hard
- Trained during her teenage years at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton, Florida
- Best tennis memory was her first experience on court with Chris Evert
- Career goal is to be ranked No.1 in the world
- Upset No.3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska en route to the fourth round at Roland Garros in 2014
- Reached first career WTA final in Pattaya City, Thailand in 2015
- Missed most of 2016 with a shoulder injury; made a triumphant return in 2017 with an upset win over World No.13 Elena Vesnina at the Miami Open
- Continued her resurgence in 2018, reaching two WTA finals (Rabat, Seoul) and returning to the top 50
- Debuted in Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup team for the 2019 final against France in Perth
- Made first Grand Slam singles quarterfinal at Wimbledon 2021
- Made Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, reaching the second round
- In 2022, became the first Australian woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1979 to reach Wimbledon and US Open singles quarterfinals in the same season
- Underwent knee surgery in January 2023 and was sidelined for nine months
- Defeated four top-60 opponents to reach first grass-court final at Birmingham in June 2024. This was also Tomljanovic’s first tour-level final in more than five years
- Represented Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, playing singles and doubles (with Olivia Gadecki)
Off court
- Speaks Croatian, English and German
- Family includes father Ratko, mother Emina and sister Hana
- Also has family in the United States; favourite city to visit is Charlotte, North Carolina, where they live
- Favourite movie is The Hangover and favourite actor is Robert Pattinson
- Enjoys watching other sports including basketball and football
- Enjoys hip hop music; Beyonce is her favourite artist.
Year-end rankings history
2023 | 549 |
2022 | 33 |
2021 | 45 |
2020 | 68 |
2019 | 51 |
2018 | 43 |
2017 | 151 |
2016 | 937 |
2015 | 66 |
2014 | 63 |
2013 | 78 |
2012 | 453 |
2011 | 145 |
2010 | 157 |
2009 | 353 |
2008 | 973 |
Ajla Tomljanovic in the news
Australia seeks redemption against Colombia

11 April, 2025
Australia returns to Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday to take on Colombia, seeking a second-place finish at the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers.
Read moreAustralia returns to Pat Rafter Arena on Saturday to take on Colombia, seeking a second-place finish at the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers.
Australia readies for Kazakhstan test

9 April, 2025
With the highest-ranked top two singles players in the competition, Kazakhstan looms as a stern test for Australia as Billie Jean King Cup action begins at Pat Rafter Arena.
Read moreWith the highest-ranked top two singles players in the competition, Kazakhstan looms as a stern test for Australia as Billie Jean King Cup action begins at Pat Rafter Arena.
Perez: “Any time we play for Australia, it’s a big event”

8 April, 2025
Ellen Perez, Australia’s highest-ranked WTA doubles player, is feeling buoyant about the host nation’s prospects at the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers round in Brisbane.
Read moreEllen Perez, Australia’s highest-ranked WTA doubles player, is feeling buoyant about the host nation’s prospects at the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers round in Brisbane.
Ranking Movers: Gibson, Tomljanovic building momentum

8 April, 2025
Talia Gibson and Ajla Tomljanovic began their clay-court seasons in style, resulting in significant rises in this week's Ranking Movers.
Read moreTalia Gibson and Ajla Tomljanovic began their clay-court seasons in style, resulting in significant rises in this week's Ranking Movers.