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Pat Rafter has all the time had a excessive opinion of Ajla Tomljanovic’s expertise and grit and says this summer season of tennis is the place she will take the subsequent step and construct in the direction of difficult for an Australian Open title.
The 29-year-old world no.33 will line up within the inaugural United Cup in Sydney from Thursday in an Australian line-up which incorporates Nick Kygrios and Alex de Minaur.
The 18-country blended groups occasion can be performed in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth and is the place Tomljanovic will start her preparation for the Australian Open in January.
Tomljanovic made the quarter finals of the US Open and Wimbledon this 12 months to achieve her highest world singles rating.
“Ajla did properly within the grand slams this 12 months and wasn’t far off going additional both. She is a superb ball striker and when she has her confidence she goes nice,” Rafter instructed AAP.
“Generally her confidence is not there and he or she does not play as properly, however going that additional step is all about including an additional string to your bow and figuring out tips on how to win whenever you aren’t enjoying properly.
“As you become old you’re employed out how all that works. Hopefully she has discovered from her expertise and may win when not enjoying her greatest tennis.”
The Croatian-born right-hander has battled accidents through the years however it’s the method she has handled them that the majority impresses Rafter.
“Ajla has had an up and down profession primarily as a result of she’s had such horrible accidents,” Rafter mentioned.
“She’s had some fairly dangerous shoulder operations and it’s fairly exhausting to return again from that however by way of all of it she has remained actually upbeat, which is why she is having some good outcomes now.
“I take my hat off to her. She has hung in there when she may have actually packed it in … after being touted as the subsequent massive factor. She fought exhausting to get again into it. I’m hopeful we are able to see her expertise come to the fore this summer season.”
When Rafter was extra concerned within the Australian tennis scene he had a bit to do with Tomljanovic and her father Ratko.
“Ajla is a superb woman. All of the dealings I’ve ever had together with her father Ratko had been nice. They had been all the time actually grateful and a very good staff,” he mentioned.
Rafter mentioned he was wanting ahead to watching the primary United Cup unfold.
“I believe it’s a nice idea. Tennis Australia prefer to strive new initiatives and they’re having a crack right here with the women and men enjoying collectively,” he mentioned. “I’m actually to see the way it performs out.”
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