Three years on, Alja Tomljanovic has no regrets about her notorious on-court bust-up with Jelena Ostapenko at Wimbledon.
However Australia’s Wimbledon specialist Tomljanovic reckons the pair are “cool” nowadays, with nothing however mutual respect as they put together to do battle once more at SW19 of their second grand slam duel of the yr.
The attention-catching first-round assembly, set for Tuesday, raised eyebrows and few smiles at Friday’s draw as Tomljanovic, on a formidable comeback path, was drawn in opposition to the previous French Open champion.
However Tomljanovic, who known as out the feisty Latvian for what she believed was a feigned harm again of their 2021 fourth-round conflict, did not flip a hair. The one factor the draw stirred in her was the thought it seemed a really troublesome opening conflict.
“We’re cool, I’d say,” stated Tomljanovic, when requested about her relationship with Ostapenko nowadays, adamant their argument was now historic historical past.
“We had successful in Birmingham final week for half-hour and, look, for me what occurred was prior to now.”
Considering again to the episode when Ostapenko took umbrage at Tomljanovic’s accusation that she was mendacity about an harm and berated the Australian as “the worst participant on tour”, the Australian, who received that conflict, shrugged she had no regrets.
“Wanting again at it in any case these years, like did I overreact? Perhaps. Within the second it felt what I felt, and I do not in a manner remorse it.
“However I do suppose that typically within the warmth of the battle, it is also good to indicate emotion. On the finish of the day, it is sports activities.
“Simply displaying the place our relationship is now, the place we’re in a position to say hey, I feel that I do respect her and on the similar time, I feel perhaps it’s mutual. So it is simply very a lot prior to now, I do not actually give it some thought in any respect.
“I am simply excited to play Jelena right here. We have had some thrilling matches every time we performed and I really feel like I do like enjoying her on grass as a result of it should actually make me focus from the start.
“I really feel prefer it’s giving me a little bit of extra depth in follow as nicely, understanding I will be getting simply actually massive pictures from her facet and possibly a number of quick factors.
“I’ve already performed her a pair occasions since that match. I am a distinct individual now, issues perhaps would not trouble me as a lot. But when I am going again to that second, I might by no means made it previous a fourth spherical and it was very emotional for me. Now I simply sit up for the battle.
“However 100 per cent, it is positively robust. With this one, I do know from the get go, I’ve to carry out at a extremely excessive degree.”
However Tomljanovic, who’s made a stirring comeback over the previous month after being sidelined for lengthy components of the earlier yr and a half with accidents, is taking confidence from reaching the ultimate of the Birmingham Traditional in Edgbaston final weekend.
“I would not be right here if I did not consider {that a} run (to a 3rd Wimbledon quarter-final and even past) may nonetheless be a risk, however I additionally suppose understanding that it may not occur is the great thing about sport,” smiled the 31-year-old.
“You do not know when it might be your time.”