Ajla Tomljanovic battles superstar dad for Break Point spotlight at the US Open

NO LIMIT, NYC: Ajla Tomljanovic (from 2022).

NEW YORK—Who’s the star here?

Ajla Tomljanovic knew father Ratko would bring plenty of personality to her Netflix Break Point appearances, but the Aussie is coming to grips with just how high his star has risen at the 2023 US Open, her first tournament of the season.

“I’m so upset!” she joked after rallying to defeat Panna Udvardy in three sets. “People ask him for selfies, and I’m like, ‘No, that’s not how it goes!’ But he loves it.

“Thanks to me,” she clarified with a smile. “He’s on camera, and we realize he loves it the most. Thank god he can’t do it on his own, without me, because we would lose him in Hollywood.”

Ratko has also lent critical support to the former US Open quarterfinalist in the 10 months she spent rehabbing her left knee, offering encouraging words after she edged into the second round on Monday.

“My dad was like, ‘Don’t ever tell me you can’t do something,’” she said after the match.

“I have a lot of videos I took of myself rehabbing and talking to a camera because I wanted to have proof of what it felt like. At this stage of my career, going through an injury is very different. Even today, losing the first set, I thought to myself, ‘This crowd is awesome. I would not want to be anywhere else, even if I don’t come up with a win. I’ve been working for these two hours of pure adrenaline, joy, problem-solving and competing.’”

She also got some last-minute pep talk from countrywoman Daria Saville, who herself has is on her way back from an ACL injury that kept her off court for nine months.

“I actually saw her in the locker room before my match. I laid down and was like, ‘I’m so nervous!’ She goes, ‘Ajla, this is a celebration, you playing today.’ I was like, ‘It is a celebration,’ so that was great.”

For her part, Tomljanovic felt the spotlight’s glow in Flushing Meadows, musing the packed house for her Court 4 clash with Udvardy may have been a combination of Break Point and her unforgettable win over Serena Williams, which sent the 23-time Grand Slam champion into retirement.

“Oh my god, a few people know me now in my New York!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know what’s going on, but it does not feel bad, let me tell you! That roar when I came out compared to hers, I was like, ‘Oh my god!’ It felt super nice. I guess everyone from last year felt bad, so they’re like, ‘We’re going to cheer her on this year. She hasn’t played in 10 months!’

“With Break Point coming out, I’ve had a lot of people come up to me while I was rehabbing, which was very nice, because there’s nothing coming into make you feel good except my dad talking all day. A lot of people were watching and little kids were getting inspired to play, and that’s something I never thought I’d do with my tennis, which is inspire another kid. When I hear that, it feels pretty good.”

Relieved to feel pain-free—if a little fatigued—Tomljanovic aims to put 100% into recovery so she can be as ready as possible to face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Wednesday.

“My physio is my best friend right now,” she smiled. “I’m not used to that. Usually I’m like, ‘Ok dinner, ice bath,’ but now I’m like, ‘Ok, we need to work some magic tomorrow.’”

Can Tomljanovic be a star again in New York? She did note one major improvement in spite of the rust.

“There was a lot of problem-solving going on today, and I’m very proud of that,” she said. “When I was at my fittest, I used to problem-solve very badly! So, this was very good!”