Tomljanovic primed for Chatrier showdown with Paolini
Ajla Tomljanovic believes her triumph in the all-Aussie 'generation game' with Maya Joint may have provided her with the perfect preparation to down her next, more illustrious opponent at the French Open.
Tomljanovic predicted a golden future for "amazing talent" Joint after her first-round win, saying the teenager's crisp-striking, fleet-footed game reminded her of the world No.4 Jasmine Paolini, who now stands in her way.
And the evergreen Tomljanovic believes she'll have to deliver the same front-foot attacking display to down the little Italian ball of energy who reached both the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals last year.
"Jasmine is like, in a sense, a more experienced and better Maya. They have pretty similar games," mused the 32-year-old Tomljanovic, looking forward to the high-profile date on Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday.
"So I came off court, and the first thing my coach said was 'this is the way you have to play against Jasmine, and it's going to be very important for you to keep doing that on Wednesday'.
"So there'll be no excuses, I know how to approach it."
Tomljanovic accepts her young friend Joint, with whom she's trained a lot, is still a work in progress but she's seen enough to make her think the teenager could be hovering around the world's top 30 by the end of this year.
Her simple analysis? "Just going off of what I feel when I play her, she's just extremely, extremely good at tennis!
"We practice a lot already this year, and she's just a great person on top of being an amazing talent. So really excited for her, because I think the ceiling is really high for Maya.
"I don't see why she couldn't finish the year close to 30, 40."
As for her own form, Tomljaonvic, who looked as sharp on Monday as when she was reaching quarter-finals at Wimbledon (2021, 2022) and Flushing Meadows (2022), mused: "Really good question. I'm curious too.
"I'd be happy if I finished top 50, and I'm not being too tough on myself and not being like it's impossible. It's a good goal," added the veteran who's been as high as 32 a couple of years ago but is currently at 71.
When she's at her best, Tomljanovic can give any opponent a run for their money and Paolini, maybe still feeling a bit of a hangover after her Italian Open triumph, accepted after an "up and down" three-set opening win over Yue Yuan that she needs to improve.
For Tomljanovic is feeling good on the courts where she first made a major breakthrough as a Croatian teenager back in 2014, even before she made the move to Australia.
AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION ON DAY FOUR OF THE FRENCH OPEN (prefix denotes seeding)
Women
Ajla Tomljanovic v (4) Jasmine Paolini (ITA)
Men
(25) Alexei Popyrin v Alejandro Tabilo (CHI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Sun
30 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
Marvel Stadium ranked in 2025 Pollstar Mid-Year Top 50 Worldwide Stadium list
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne's Marvel Stadium has been ranked in the top five sport and entertainment venues in the world for the first time. The Herald Sun can reveal the AFL-owned ground has been ranked Australia's top stadium in a global study, outpointing the MCG, Adelaide Oval, SCG, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Optus Stadium in Perth. The Docklands venue ranked in the top 10 in the 2025 Pollstar Mid-Year Top 50 Worldwide Stadium rankings for both tickets and gross sales. Marvel Stadium was ranked the highest Australian venue in Pollstar's top 50 list, joining the likes of Mexico's Estadio GNP Seguros, California's SoFi Stadium and Japan's Tokyo Dome as international venues in the top 10. Measured between November 14, 2024 and May 14, 2025, Pollstar ranked Marvel Stadium as fifth in the world for highest-grossing stadiums and seventh for highest stadium ticket sales. During that period, more than 111,200 fans packed Marvel Stadium to see US country artist Luke Combs, 54,600 flocked to see punk pop rockers Green Day, and 108,100 rocked out to Pearl Jam. The data crunch also took in patronage for AFL matches featuring the likes of Essendon, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. Marvel Stadium general manager Scott Fitzgerald said the ranking reinforced the venue's place on the international touring map. 'To be named among the best stadiums on the global stage is a true testament to the investment and innovation that has gone into evolving Marvel Stadium into a world-class, 365-day multipurpose venue that is delivering unforgettable experiences for fans, artists, and athletes alike,' he said. The milestone marks the first time Marvel Stadium has been recognised in the top five venues for grossing stadiums, following its eighth position in the same list in 2023. Mr Fitzgerald said: 'Melbourne is a city that lives and breathes sport and live entertainment, and we're proud that Marvel Stadium is continuing to shine on an international stage and creating experiences that rival the world's best.' It was the highest Aussie stadium in Pollstar's top 50, surpassing fellow Australian sites Accor Stadium, Flemington Racecourse, Brisbane Showgrounds and ENGIE Stadium. And it is the second global ranking recognition Marvel Stadium has received in the past year after its number one top-grossing concert revenue result for October in the 2024 Billboard Boxscore rankings. Marvel trailed only Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, SoFi Stadium in the US, Allianz Parque in Brazil and Mexico's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for gross sales. It was the seventh top arena based on ticket sales, behind Estadio GNP Seguros, Allianz Parquel, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and SoFi Stadium. While footy rules in Melbourne during winter, the venue will host some more big acts this year including Oasis, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and Wrexham AFC's tour Down Under.
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
US Open final round live: Australia's Adam Scott chasing golf history
Australia's Adam Scott will make golf history if he secures a second major victory at the US Open on Monday morning (AEST). The 44-year-old Aussie started the final round one shot off the lead after shooting three-under 67 in the third round — he was only golfer not to be over par in any of the first three rounds. Watch every round of the 2025 US Open LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on FOX SPORTS, available on Kayo. | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Scott has been remarkably consistent across a stellar pro career — the US Open is his 96th consecutive major — but the Aussie would desperately love a second major win to bookend his career. Scott famously became the first and only Aussie to win the Masters in 2013 after he let a four-hole lead slip at the 2012 Open Championship. If he wins the US Open at Oakmont, Scott will break the record for the longest ever gap between golf major wins (4,445 days), which currently stands at 11 years (4,026 days). Adam Scott is chasing an incredible second major./AFP. Scott's shaky start to final around Adam Scott has teed off and has had a mixed start to his final round with two bogeys and a birdie. He bogeyed the first and third holes, with his approach chip shot on the third leaving him a long way from the hole. But Scott recovered on the par-5 fourth, nailing a massive putt from the edge of the green that nearly went in for eagle. Scott moved to -2 and into a share of the lead after American Sam Burns bogeyed the fifth hole. But Scott three-putted on the sixth hole to slip one shot back to -1. Golf world cheering for Aussie Golf fans around the world are hoping Adam Scott can somehow claim a victory that would cap off a superb career. Golfer Cameron Percy wrote on X: 'If you're not cheering for Adam Scott tomorrow you're a bum…..there isn't a better human.' Journalist Dan Rapaport said: 'Everyone on Tour is astounded that Adam Scott seems to gain 1-2 mph of ball speed every year as he moves deep into his 40s. A legendary figure in our sport who deserves a second major championship. What a massive day.' Masters champion Trevor Immelman said: 'I'm pulling for Adam Scott this weekend.' Scott said this weekend: 'Another major more would really go a long way in fulfilling my own self, when it's all said and done.' US Open leaderboard Sam Burns: 2-under Adam Scott: 1-under Viktor Hovland: Even par J.J. Spain, Tyrell Hatton: 1-over
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Schoolkate triumph heads Aussies' pre-Wimbledon push
Australian Tristan Schoolkate has lifted his first grass-court title in England - only to celebrate his breakthrough triumph by cadging a lift to his next tournament from the man he beat in the final. Schoolkate's victory in the Ilkley Trophy was the highlight of a weekend when Australia's tennis men began some impressive muscle-flexing on the grass with Wimbledon in their sights. The rising Perth professional who began the year by taking a set off world No.1 Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, moved towards the edge of the game's top 100 with his win on Sunday. The traditional, picturesque grass-court Challenger event adjacent to the famous Ilkley Moor in Yorkshire has become a pre-Wimbledon staple and it was a real feather in the 24-year-old's cap to become the second Australian holder of the Trophy after Jason Kubler prevailed two years ago. Schoolkate, who will rise to a new career-high of 106 in Monday's rankings, had to battle back from a set down to beat British wildcard Jack Pinnington Jones 6-7 (8-10) 6-4 6-3 and grab his first ever title on a grass court. As he enjoyed his victory at the trophy presentation, Schoolkate had the crowd laughing when he revealed that Pinnington Jones was due to be chauffeuring him to his next event 145km away at the Nottingham Open Challenger later on Sunday evening. "Hopefully, Jack still wants to take me tonight!" smiled Schoolkate. "He offered to drive us! I'll shout the Guinnesses!" Looking at the patriotic crowd, he added: "They all got behind you today - I tried to pretend that my name was Jack..." Schoolkate is yet to win a match on grass at tour-level but he'll go into Wimbledon qualifying in eight days time high on confidence after a tournament in which he had to battle through four three-setters to take the crown. It was the second Australian title success of the weekend after the fledgling doubles partnership of Jordan Thompson and Matt Ebden picked up the title at Rosmalen in the Netherlands in just their first ATP tournament together. The duo, who'd previously won their only Davis Cup rubber together, beat British duo Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6-4 3-6 [10-7] on Saturday as Thompson celebrated his eighth tour-level doubles crown and Ebden his 13th - and first since he won Olympic gold with John Peers. The pair will next play in the prestigious Queen's Club Championship where the Australian men's contingent will be out in full force after two more battled through all-Aussie qualifying ties on Sunday to make the singles main draw alongside Thompson, Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur. Aleksandar Vukic defeated Adam Walton 6-4 6-4 while Alex Bolt, the 32-year-old veteran world No.186 who always seems to come alive with the scent of the grass in his nostrils, upset world No.80 Chris O'Connell 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. Vukic's reward is another all-Australian clash in the first round against Popyrin, while Bolt will play rising Briton Jacob Fearnley. De Minaur, back in business after taking a break following his early exit at the French Open, will open up against Czech Jiri Lehecka, while Thompson will play Spain's Jaume Munar.
