Ajla Tomljanović has produced among the best shows of an already spectacular yr in opposition to world no 1 Iga Świątek — earlier than being defeated by a knee harm.
Key factors:
- Tomljanović misplaced the primary set 7-5 after a 66-minute battle with Świątek
- Świątek praised the Australian’s type and wished her a speedy restoration
- Tomljanović would be the Australian group’s singles spearhead at subsequent month’s Billie Jean King Cup
Australia’s high girls’s participant was giving just lately topped US Open champion Świątek all method of bother of their fascinating second-round conflict on the Ostrava Open earlier than a sore left knee prevented her from carrying on.
Having misplaced the marathon opening set 7-5, Tomljanović was nonetheless battling beautifully in a draining second stanza, levelling at 2-2 earlier than she determined, to the shock of the Czech crowd, she needed to retire.
After one hour and 43 minutes through which the world quantity 34 had gone toe-to-toe with the sport’s greatest participant from the baseline and infrequently received the higher of her, Tomljanović was nonetheless trying very threatening when she known as it a day.
However the 29-year-old, who had her knee checked out by a physio on the earlier changeover, evidently didn’t wish to worsen the issue with half a watch on subsequent month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals in Glasgow, the place she would be the Australian group’s singles spearhead.
Nonetheless, it was a disgrace such a powerful show ought to finish in anti-climax, with even Świątek recognising how wonderful Tomljanović had been.
“It appears she’s actually on a roll and taking part in higher and higher. It was an incredible match and it is unlucky that one thing like that occurred,” the Pole mentioned on courtroom after sympathising with Tomljanović.
“I hope she recovers rapidly as a result of she’s been taking part in higher and higher, I feel.”
It was one other important efficiency from Tomljanović in a terrific yr throughout which she has reached two grand slam quarterfinals, at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows, the place she additionally introduced the curtain down on Serena Williams’s profession with a well-known third-round triumph.
In Ostrava, Tomljanović seemed to be getting a big-hitting lesson from 22-year-old Świątek, who raced to a 4-1 lead in her first match since beating Ons Jabeur for the US crown.
Exhibiting no indicators of ring rust, Świątek was steamrolling Tomljanović simply as she had just lately in a 6-1, 6-2 win on the Canadian Open, however the Australian hit again, going for broke fearlessly along with her personal tracers.
Producing actual brilliance at 4-2 down, Tomljanović conjured up an unlikely cross-court forehand winner off the again foot after which a backhand bullet winner that earned her a break again.
At 5-6 down, Tomljanović saved a set level with one other daring winner, however received unfortunate when Świątek took the draining 66-minute set with the assistance of a internet twine.
Exhibiting no indicators of disappointment, the brand new, extra steely 2022 model of Tomljanović burst again to earn a direct break within the second set, forcing Świątek to summon a few of her highest tennis to degree the match.
Świątek has now received 58 matches in 2022, probably the most in any of the final 5 years on the WTA Tour and can search to make it 59 within the quarter-finals in opposition to both American qualifier Catherine McNally or Czech wildcard Karolína Muchová.
AAP
