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‘Absolute class’: United States falls in love with Ajla Tomljanovic after act of sportsmanship

An Aussie star has wowed the United States with an act of incredible sportsmanship after ending Serena Williams’ career.

Tyson OttoTyson Otto
@tottodtsport
3 min read
September 3, 2022 - 2:57PM
Ajla Tomljanovic speaking on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo: Channel 9.
Ajla Tomljanovic speaking on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo: Channel 9.

Ajla Tomljanovic, take a bow.

The Aussie star has produced a performance of absolute class as she ended the career of Serena Williams and still managed to walk off Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the crowd cheering for her.

Tomljanovic could have been forgiven for rubbing it in the New York crowd’s face as she eliminated Williams in a three set, three hour epic after being jeered by sections of the crowd throughout the match.

There were crazy scenes as the crowd cheered Williams on, but on the receiving end of that there was also Tomljanovic, who dealt with fans shouting out in between her first and second serves and dealt with the mental pressure of having 24,000 spectators all cheering against you.

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It took a performance of the highest quality to defeat Williams 7-5 6-7 6-1 in a match some tennis commentators described as her bet ever performance.

Tomljanovic’s performance off the court was even more classy.

Ajla Tomljanovic gave Serena the floor. Photo: Channel 9.
Ajla Tomljanovic gave Serena the floor. Photo: Channel 9.

Her gestures of sportsmanship towards Williams has seen the United States fall in love with her.

With Williams’ career coming to a sudden end, Tomljanovic was reserved at the end of the match and showed little excitement before she went and shook hands with Williams at the net.

Instead of returning to the centre of the court to wave to her fans, as is standard procedure for the winners of tennis matches, the 29-year-old instead stood near her seat alongside the chair umpire and applauded Williams as the 40-year-old was given one final standing ovation at Flushing Meadows.

One American TV commentator said: “How classy from Ajla to not go crazy. She’s giving the stage to Serena Williams for the last time”.

She was just as classy when interviewed on court following Serena’s own interview where the 23-time grand slam champion broke down in tears as she thanked her family.

Tomljanovic even apologised to the crowd as it sunk in that she had ended the career of one of her idols.

“I’m feeling really sorry just because I love Serena just as much as you guys do,” she told the crowd.

“What she’s done for me, for the sport of tennis, is incredible.

“I never thought I’d have a chance to play her in her last match when I remember watching her in all those finals, so this is a surreal moment for me.”

Ajla Tomljanovic speaking on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo: Channel 9.
Ajla Tomljanovic speaking on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo: Channel 9.

Tomljanovic said she had also never felt certain of victory. “Even to the last point, I knew that she’s in a position to win even when she’s down 5-1,” she said.

“That’s just who she is. She’s the greatest of all time. Period.”

Tomljanovic has never gone further than the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam event and is ranked 49th in the world.

Yet she showed magnificent composure in the face of tremendous pressure from Williams and a home crowd determined to will her opponent to victory.

Every unforced error or mistake by Tomljanovic was greeted by cheers from the New York crowd, who conversely remained mostly silent whenever the Australian fired off a winner.

Her response to the unfavourable treatment is why America has performed such a backflip on her.

Aussie legend Todd Woodbridge said in TV commentary Tomljanovic would have won a lot of new fans and he is not wrong.

“Absolute class from Ajla Tomljanovic, both from the performance on the court tonight and also in that interview,” he told Channel 9.

“She will have won an enormous amount of fans with the way she played here tonight.”

There was a social media avalanche following the on-court interviews with Tomljanovic delivering a tribute that turned her biggest critics into fans.

Serena Williams broke down after the loss. Picture: Getty Images
Serena Williams broke down after the loss. Picture: Getty Images

American media commentator Meghan O’Keefe wrote on Twitter: “This was such a classy interview given the insane circumstance. Tomljanovic was able to win over the audience in real time”.

Tennis TV commentator Nick McCarvel posted: “I mean holy s*** Ajla Tomljanovic handled that well. From walk on to post-match interview and everything in between. Class.”

ESPN’s Bill Connelly posted on Twitter: “Now the world knows that Alja Tomljanovic is a pretty damn good dude, too”.

The Athletic’s Arpon Basu wrote: “I’m now officially an Ajla Tomljanovic fan.”

She was described by some as the “epitome of graciousness”.

Earlier, Nick Kyrgios put on an absolute clinic as he moved through to the last 16 at the US Open for the first time in his career.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/absolute-class-united-states-falls-in-love-with-ajla-tomljanovic-after-act-of-sportsmanship/news-story/7527d0d31501be1bd2f0cb5bd3b2c087