The occasional hit with boyfriend Nick Kyrgios and some prudent decisions about her schedule are paying dividends as Ajla Tomljanovic pushes her way towards the top 100.
The 24-year-old accounted for emerging Australian Destanee Aiava 6-1 6-4 in Sunday’s Brisbane International first round in a battle of the wildcards.
While most are just returning to the tour, Tomljanovic is already hitting her straps after an interrupted 2017 saw her continue through December.
The Croat-turned-Queenslander has moved from No.930 to No.118 in a successful comeback from a shoulder injury that kept her off the tour for more than a year.
“I didn’t play the grass court season (earlier in 2017), didn’t feel fit yet and to just compete I gave myself time to work on my body,” she said. “In October, November, December I found my groove.”
On the back of that surge, she says she is confident ahead of a second-round clash with fifth seed Johanna Konta or US Open finalist Madison Keys.
“I don’t want to put numbers on it, but when I’m playing my best I can do good things,” she said. “I don’t feel like a 118-ranked player.”
Tomljanovic hit with Kyrgios – seeded No.3 in the men’s draw – on Pat Rafter Arena in the lead-up to the tournament and said it was something she enjoyed in small doses.
“Whenever we’re together we hit, but sometimes I don’t want to because I’m sick of the spinny forehand and unrealistic serves,” she said. “But it definitely helps; no girl hits like that.”