Ajla Tomljanović is an Australian professional tennis player who has built a reputation as one of the sport’s toughest competitors, combining resilience with an ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Born in Croatia before later representing Australia, Tomljanović has reached the quarterfinals at both Wimbledon and the US Open, defeated multiple Grand Slam champions, and established herself as a consistent presence on the WTA Tour.
Her career has also been defined by perseverance. Serious injuries interrupted several seasons just as she was building momentum, yet she repeatedly returned to compete with many of the world’s best players.
Away from the court, Tomljanović has attracted attention for her relationship with Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini, though the pair ended their relationship in 2022.
Since then, she has largely kept her personal life private while remaining focused on her tennis career.
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Ajla Tomljanovic Biography
She was born on 7 May 1993 in Zagreb, Croatia. Ajla Tomljanović was introduced to tennis at the age of six. She quickly emerged as one of Croatia’s most promising junior players before eventually relocating to the United States to further her development.
Tomljanović comes from a sporting family. Her father, Ratko Tomljanović, enjoyed a successful handball career and won European titles with RK Zagreb.
Her mother, Emina Tomljanović, is originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina. She also has an older sister, Hana Tomljanović, who played competitive tennis before competing at the collegiate level in the United States.
The family’s sporting background played a significant role in shaping Ajla’s career. Recognising her talent early, her parents supported her move to Florida as a teenager, where she trained at the renowned Evert Tennis Academy, one of the world’s leading development centres for young players.
That decision transformed her career, providing access to elite coaching and stronger international competition.
Although she represented Croatia during the early years of her professional career, Tomljanović became an Australian citizen in January 2018.
After completing the eligibility process, she officially began representing Australia in team competitions, adding another chapter to one of the most distinctive international careers in women’s tennis.
Career
Ajla Tomljanović emerged as one of the world’s leading junior players during the late 2000s, rising to a career high of world No. 4 in the ITF junior rankings. Her breakthrough season came in 2009.
Tomljanović won the Australian Open girls’ doubles title alongside American player Christina McHale, securing her first junior Grand Slam championship.
The pair defeated Aleksandra Krunić and Sandra Zaniewska in the final to lift the title. The same year, she also captured the prestigious ITF Grade A Copa Gerdau singles title, further cementing her reputation as one of the sport’s brightest young prospects.
By the end of her junior career, Tomljanović had established herself as one of the most promising players of her generation.
Her aggressive baseline game, powerful groundstrokes and ability to compete under pressure convinced many coaches and analysts that she was ready to transition to the professional tour.
Tomljanović made her WTA Tour debut in 2009 after receiving a wildcard into the main draw at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
The jump from junior tennis to the professional circuit proved demanding, but she steadily gained experience through both the WTA Tour and the ITF Women’s Circuit.
Her first WTA Tour main draw victory arrived at the Memphis International in 2010, where she defeated Slovak player Kristína Kučová before reaching the second round. Progress continued over the following seasons until illness disrupted her development.
In 2012, Tomljanović contracted glandular fever, forcing her to miss much of the season and significantly slowing her rise through the rankings.
She returned in 2013 and gradually rebuilt her form, recording her first Grand Slam main draw victory at the US Open by defeating Australian player Casey Dellacqua before advancing to the second round.
Between 2014 and 2019, Tomljanović developed into one of the tour’s most dangerous unseeded players. She regularly challenged higher-ranked opponents and produced victories over several members of the world’s top 10, earning a reputation for her aggressive style and ability to compete in long, physical matches.
Her game is built around a powerful first serve, heavy forehand and flat backhand, allowing her to dictate points from the baseline against many of the WTA Tour’s biggest hitters.
A major milestone arrived in January 2018, when she officially became an Australian citizen. After previously competing under the Croatian flag, Tomljanović began representing Australia in all international competitions, including the Billie Jean King Cup and the Olympic Games.
The change reflected the country where she had trained for much of her professional career after moving to Florida as a teenager.
Grand Slam Breakthrough
Tomljanović reached the defining stage of her career during the early 2020s. At Wimbledon 2021, she advanced to her first Grand Slam quarterfinal after defeating British teenager Emma Raducanu in the fourth round.
The match ended after Raducanu was forced to retire because of breathing difficulties, sending Tomljanović into the final eight of a major for the first time.
She matched that achievement at Wimbledon 2022, reaching another quarterfinal before losing to eventual champion Elena Rybakina. Later that year, she enjoyed the best Grand Slam run of her career at the 2022 US Open.
Tomljanović defeated seven-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round before producing one of the most memorable victories of her career against Serena Williams in the third round.
The win over Williams brought an emotional end to the American legend’s singles career and became one of the defining moments of the tournament.
Tomljanović eventually reached the quarterfinals, where she lost to Ons Jabeur, completing the deepest Grand Slam campaign of her professional career.
Injuries and Comebacks
Tomljanović’s career has been shaped as much by resilience as by results. Several injuries interrupted key periods of her development, forcing her to spend extended spells away from competition just as she was building momentum on the WTA Tour.
One of the earliest setbacks came in 2012, when glandular fever sidelined her for much of the season. She later dealt with recurring shoulder issues before suffering one of the most significant injuries of her career during the second half of 2023.
A persistent knee problem forced Tomljanović to withdraw from multiple tournaments, including the Australian Open and the French Open, significantly limiting her schedule.
She underwent surgery before beginning a lengthy rehabilitation programme aimed at returning to full fitness. The recovery kept her away from competition for several months, leading to a substantial drop in the WTA rankings.
Tomljanović returned to professional tennis in 2024, gradually rebuilding both her ranking and match fitness. Her comeback included encouraging performances against higher-ranked opponents and demonstrated the determination that has defined much of her career.
Speaking after her return, Tomljanović acknowledged that recovering mentally proved just as demanding as returning physically, describing the rehabilitation process as one of the toughest periods of her professional life.
Her ability to repeatedly return after injury has earned widespread respect from fellow players and commentators across the WTA Tour.
Matteo Berrettini
Ajla Tomljanović has generally kept her personal life private despite spending more than a decade competing on the international tennis circuit.
Outside tennis, she has spoken about the importance of family and credits her parents for supporting her decision to pursue a professional sporting career from a young age.
She has also expressed an interest in fashion, travel and fitness, though she rarely shares extensive details about her private life away from tournaments.
Tomljanović remains active on social media, where she primarily posts updates connected to training, competitions and life on the WTA Tour.
She was previously in a relationship with Italian tennis star Matteo Berrettini. The couple confirmed their relationship publicly in 2019, becoming one of professional tennis’ most recognisable partnerships.
As both competed regularly on the ATP and WTA Tours, they frequently supported each other during tournaments around the world.
Tomljanović was often present during some of Berrettini’s biggest career moments, including his run to the 2021 Wimbledon final, while Berrettini also attended several of her matches whenever tournament schedules allowed.
Both players occasionally discussed how sharing the same profession helped them understand the physical and mental demands of elite tennis.
Berrettini explained in interviews that having a partner who also competed professionally made travelling and managing life on tour easier because they experienced many of the same challenges.
Their relationship ended in 2022. Neither player publicly disclosed detailed reasons for the separation, choosing instead to keep the matter private.
Since then, both have continued their careers independently. As of the latest verified information, Ajla Tomljanović is not publicly known to be in a relationship.
She has not announced a partner and has largely kept her private life away from public discussion following her split from Berrettini.
Ajla Tomljanovic’s Net Worth
Ajla Tomljanović’s estimated net worth is between £4 million and £6 million. The estimate reflects more than a decade competing on the WTA Tour, career prize money, endorsement agreements and appearance fees.
According to the WTA, Tomljanović has earned more than $7 million in official career prize money alone, placing her among Australia’s highest-earning female tennis players of her generation. Prize money represents only part of her earnings.
Throughout her professional career, she has secured sponsorship agreements with major sports brands, including:
- Nike Wilson
- Sporting Goods
Those commercial partnerships, combined with tournament earnings and bonuses, have significantly increased her career income.
Tomljanović has never publicly disclosed her finances, meaning any estimate remains unofficial.
Her wealth nevertheless reflects a career built through consistent performances at Grand Slam tournaments, WTA Tour events and international competition.