Ajla Tomljanović
A tenacious competitor with a powerful baseline game, she became a giant-killer at Grand Slams, famously halting Serena Williams's final run.
Born 1993 (age 33)·Croatian-born Australian tennis player·Birthday: May 7·Millennials
Biography
Ajla Tomljanović's tennis story is one of resilience and a hard-earned breakthrough. Born in Croatia, she switched her sporting allegiance to Australia in 2018, a move that reflected her personal journey as much as her professional one. For years, she was a steady presence on the tour, known for her fighting spirit and flat groundstrokes, but often hovering just outside the sport's brightest spotlight. That changed dramatically in 2022. At the US Open, she found herself across the net from Serena Williams in what was billed as the legend's final match. Tomljanović played the match of her life, absorbing the historic pressure and prevailing in three sets, a victory that etched her name into tennis history. She repeated the feat at Wimbledon the following year, defeating then-world number one Iga Świątek. These moments revealed a player who thrives on the biggest stages, proving that persistence can lead to a legacy defined by monumental upsets.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Ajla was born in 1993, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ajla Was Born
The biggest hits of 1993
#1 Movie
Jurassic Park
Best Picture
Schindler's List
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Ajla's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1993Born
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1998Started school
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Became a teenager
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Could drive
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2011Could vote
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Turned 21
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2023Turned 30
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 33 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2021 and 2022, her best Grand Slam performances.
- Defeated Serena Williams in the third round of the 2022 US Open, which was Williams's final professional singles match.
- Beat world No. 1 Iga Świątek in the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinals, ending Świątek's 37-match winning streak.
- Achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 32 in April 2023.
Did You Know?
She speaks four languages: Croatian, English, Italian, and Spanish.
She was once in a long-term relationship with fellow professional tennis player Matteo Berrettini.
She began playing tennis at age seven after being inspired by watching Monica Seles on television.
“I fight for every ball because that's the only way I know.”
