Ajla Tomljanovic secures first title in 10 years

After a knee injury threatened to derail her career, an Aussie star has secured a breakthrough victory ahead of the summer of tennis.

Ajla Tomljanovic has secured a big win in Brazil. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images

Playing just her fifth event back from a knee injury that derailed her 2023 season, Australian star Ajla Tomljanovic has won the biggest singles title of her career in Brazil.

Making her first appearance in a final in more than four years, the 30-year-old defeated Argentina’s Martina Capurro Taborda 6-1, 7-5 to win the WTA 125 MundoTenis Open title in Florianopolis, Brazil.

The victory snapped Tomljanovic’s nine-match losing streak in finals, stretching back to 2013, in a massive confidence boost heading into the summer of tennis in Australia, including the Australian Open.

Yesssss https://t.co/2IbIlA3ShF

— Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) November 26, 2023

After a barnstorming end to 2022, having reached grand slam quarter-finals at both Wimbledon and the US Open where she defeated Serena Williams in the 23-time grand slam champion’s final match of her career, Tomljanovic was cut down by a knee injury.

Having reached a career-high ranking of 32, Tomljanovic had to withdraw from all events in Australia, including the Australian Open, and didn’t play again until July, returning to action with an opening round win at the US Open.

However, she withdrew from her second round and has been building back to full fitness ahead of another campaign at home, with her victory set to boost her ranking from

543.

Originally published as Ajla Tomljanovic secures first title in 10 years