Ajla Tomljanovic feels she is at her best mentally when she is balancing well between her career and social life. Tomljanovic, 29, is preparing to kick off her campaign at the US Open. On Friday, Tomljanovic enjoyed some quality time as she joined Ons Jabeur , Belinda Bencic and Jessica Pegula at Bethanie Mattek Sands event in New York.
Going into the US Open, Tomljanovic is feeling relaxed. “My social life is a little more active and it’s just hectic,” Tomljanovic told Tennis Australia. “You know that when you come into these hopefully two weeks, you’re going to be really exhausted by the end of it.
But for me, it’s a good thing that I can balance my work and my social life because that’s when I’m kind of at my best mentally”.
Tomljanovic on the approach she is taking now
Tomljanovic has had a couple of notable results this summer, haivng reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and Cincinnati.
Nowadays, Tomljanovic is more willing to discuss pressure with those close to her ahead of big matches. “For me it’s been a little bit, like, career-changing,” Tomljanovic explained. “It took me a little bit of time to realise that it’s actually going to help you, when you actually acknowledge it, it takes the pressure off.
And it’s like, ‘well it’s OK that you’re feeling that way. It would be weird if you’re not'”. Tomljanovic suggested that she would have benefited from that approach in her younger days but added that she has no regrets.
“But at the same time, it was my journey, and it is what it is,” Tomljanovic added. “I’m just glad I got it at some point”. In the US Open first round, Tomljanovic faces Karolina Muchova. Tomljanovic and Muchova will be going head-to-head for the first time in their careers when they meet in the US Open first round.