ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 12, 2026

Ajla Tomljanovic

Press Conference

A. TOMLJANOVIC/C. Tauson

7-6, 0-0 (Ret.)

THE MODERATOR: Not maybe the way you wanted to get the win today, but it was a great match in that first set. Can you just give us your thoughts on your own performance today.

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, I mean, I thought I played okay in the first set. I think it was competitive. It's really unfortunate when someone close to a slam has to retire, because you know that it's for sure not nothing. I really feel for her. I know what it feels like. It's never easy.

But just from my point of view, I wasn't really, that whole set I was very locked in, and didn't really see what was going on with her and what was bothering her.

So, yeah, I just was really glad that I kind of, it was up and down I think with my level. But at some point I think some of the important points I played well, and was fortunate enough to get the set.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Did you notice she was hampered at all or was the first time you noticed when she called the trainer on?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: She reads the game really well and she's also very efficient with the way she moves, so I really didn't notice anything in that set. I did notice right away when she called the trainer. But I was wondering what was wrong with her, because I couldn't tell.

Q. With your own game, you touched on you played some of the big points well. You saved a few break points, and coughed up a couple of double faults as well. How did you see it overall from your performance, even though it was one set?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: It was a bit scrappy. I don't think it was the cleanest set for me. The conditions are a bit different than Brissy, the ball flies a bit more here. I think I could have accelerated a bit more. I couldn't really find my range, it was either in the fence or in the net. So I was getting a bit frustrated with that. Same with my serve.

I think the longer the match was going the more I was finding it. Yeah, I was looking forward to kind of play the second set, just to, you know, I could feel I could play better.

Q. You've got the winner of either young Maya and also Sofia Kenin who play tomorrow morning. You've got a winning record against both of them, and you beat Maya at the French Open last year. What will be your expectations playing against either of those two?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Yeah, both, nothing really gets easier at this point. I really enjoy playing Maya. I think she's a great player.

I think, if I play Sonya, I think I lost to her here a couple years ago in a really heartbreaking match.

Yeah, either one will be a really fun match, and just excited to get another match under my belt in this summer.

Q. With Maya, have you been impressed with what she's done in the last 12 months, just her meteoric rise through the rankings?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Oh, so impressive. So many firsts in pretty much her first full year on tour. Still so young. When someone's playing so well you forget that they're so young because they seem so experienced when they're on the court.

She's had an incredible year, and just the way she's handled the pressure I think is amazing. It will be interesting to see how she does this year. When girls get to know you a bit more it is definitely a tougher year to almost back it up. I always say, when you have such a great year you shouldn't go into it thinking, I have to do even better, because that's hard. If she can just keep playing well and not really focus on all the noise I think she will have another great year.

Q. Personally, are you a goal setter? What are your ambitions and hopes for the new year?

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC: Would just love to stay healthy, honestly. I get scared every time something pops up, like a niggle. Just because I'm like, No, I just need a full year of nothing. I still feel like I have a lot to give. I still feel like my best is around the corner.

What's never sort of wavered for me is just still the love for the game. That's pretty much why I'm still here. So I don't like setting any sort of goals, ranking-wise or anything like that, just because it's never worked for me. It always puts this pressure. Yeah, for me the way it worked always is just that I like to take every week like a new goal and new opportunity to do well.

Obviously the slams are the ones where I love to make runs, and I think that's the best feeling in tennis. Yeah, if I can just kind of keep going. I'm in the gym a lot just to not, just to stay healthy. So I feel like I'm doing everything I can.