Chelsea Handler still follows Serena Williams’ conqueror Ajla Tomljanovic, who seeks new milestones at US Open

NEW YORK—Born in Zagreb, based in Miami, Ajla Tomljanovic lives like a native New Yorker when she plays the US Open.

“I love Manhattan,” clarifies the Aussie in sharp contrast to good friend Donna Vekic. “I want to live here once I retire for a few years, just to try it. I absolutely love the buzz of the city.

“I have a bagel place I got to every morning: egg and cheese and coffee. I love it. I don’t even look forward to leaving, because you know when people say things like, ‘I’m happy to visit but happy to leave?’ Not me. If I could stay here longer, I would.”

I’m not the Ajla who had surgery on my knee anymore...I’m just moving like I used to. Ajla Tomljanovic

Tomljanovic’s 2023 stay was cut short as she attempted to will herself into a full recovery from knee surgery, winning one match but pulling out before her second due to crushing fatigue. Though she had already missed the first eight months of the season, the 31-year-old revealed it would take another 12 for her to finally feel like herself again.

“I’m not the Ajla who had surgery on my knee anymore,” says Tomljanovic, who underwent a subsequent surgery at the start of 2024 to address non-cancerous uterine fibroids. “I’m just moving like I used to.”

A former world No. 32, Tomljanovic was proving increasingly lethal at her peak, reaching three major quarterfinals in two years. But her thus-far career-defining achievement played out in Flushing Meadows when she became the last player to face down—and ultimately defeat—Serena Williams at the 2022 US Open.

It’s a moment that likely secured Tomljanovic’s name in tennis history, but not one that's still top of mind.

“For me, it’s two years ago,” she insists. “Tennis has such a short memory. I mean, once I look back, of course, I’ll remember how that was a great year and a great time at the US Open. But I’m aware of where I’m at now, and going into the past sometimes doesn’t help me. It makes me compare myself to the player I was. That doesn’t mean I can’t be better than that, but I want to start at who I am now as a player and build off that.

“What it does give me is the sense that I’ve done it before, so why not do it again? But I can’t tell you that I walk into the 2024 US Open thinking, ‘Well, I’m confident because two years ago I played great.’”

Perhaps more germane is her form of late, which has been steadily improving as she closes in on a return to the Top 100. In her fourth tournament since her fibroid surgery, she reached her biggest final in five years, finishing runner-up to Yulia Putintseva at the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham.

Unseeded in at the Open, she steeled past American qualifier Ann Li on Court 13, where enthusiastic fans proved they still knew her name—even if they occasionally struggled to pronounce it.

“I keep getting mad at my mom, and I actually told her this morning, ‘You guys really screwed me over with the spelling of my name,’” says Ajla (pronounced EYE-la). “I still prefer Ay-la over Aj-la.

“It hurt a bit but then I was like, ‘Screw it. He’s cheering for me.’ Ay-la’s not as nice but I’ll take it.”

I love Manhattan. I want to live here once I retire for a few years, just to try it. I absolutely love the buzz of the city...I don’t even look forward to leaving. You know when people say things like, ‘I’m happy to visit but happy to leave?’ Not me. If I could stay here longer, I would. Ajla Tomljanovic

Tomljanovic has honed her sense of humor through annual trips to the Comedy Cellar with sister Hana and admits the biggest perk of beating Serena was a follow from one of her personal comedy heroes.

“Chelsea Handler followed me on Instagram after I beat Serena,” she reveals with a smile. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, what is my life? Chelsea Handler follows me!’

“I saw her really close to Miami two years ago after the Open. I went to see her, and I got to meet her. She’s amazing.”

But one of the biggest stars in her life may still be father Ratko, who has built a small but mighty fanbase since stealing the show on the Netflix docuseries, Break Point.

“If I post something of him on Instagram, so many of my messages are like, ‘More content of him!’” Ajla jokes, before taking a sentimental turn.

“Look, for as much crap as I give him, when there’s been moments where I feel like things haven’t gone the way I want to, he’s my most familiar person I can get that comfort from. When I played today, I sometimes looked to him, but not even for advice on tennis. He’s been with me through all of this, and it sometimes feels like we’re in this together.

“As much as I make fun of him, he’s definitely my guy.”

With support from family—and friends like fellow pro Ons Jabeur, who teasingly threatened to spoil her draw—the New Yorker-in-waiting is putting rooftop cocktails and late-night stand-up sets on hold, ready for another big run. More importantly, she's finally able to do all the work required.

“When I had my runs, it never really depended on the draw, anyway,” she says. “I played well and beat good players. So, I know that doesn’t really mean much to me…But the fact that I can go out there tomorrow and practice for however long I want to and work on things without having to think, ‘Well, I can’t push my body too hard…’? That’s everything.

“I feel like I had a mountain to climb winning this first round, as funny as that sounds. I think it’s been a long time since winning a round this early felt this big. I’m going to try and enjoy that for this moment and tomorrow morning, but then once I step on the court for practice, I’ll get ready for the next round.”